54 km north of Buenos Aires, Pilar offers numerous social and cultural activities for both adults and children, along with the beauty of its plazas, parks, pedestrian ways and horseback rides on the surroundings of the estancias.

The colonisation of the territory that would later become Pilar, began in the year 1580, when Juan de Garay made the "Distribution of the Lands and Fortunes of the Estancias" amongst his fellow conquerors. This is how navigator Antonio Bermudez got Fortune Number 8, which included an important part of what now is the territory of the District of Pilar.

Nonetheless, the first settlement was established in the vicinity of the San Jose de Luján Fort in 1752, and that is why it was annexed to the Municipality of the Town of Luján in 1755; years later, in 1174, the region began to be called "of Pilar", and it would only belong to Luján until 1821, in which Pilar became a district.

The "Treaty of Pilar", signed by Governors Sarratea (Buenos Aires), Lopez (Santa Fe) and Ramirez (Entre Rios), ended the civil war amongst these provinces, and had the central power in Buenos Aires agree on the principles of national federalism. It was signed in this historic town in 1820; in this way, the bases of the constitution of 1853 were laid.

Two years prior to this, the City Council of Buenos Aires had authorised moving Old Pilar to its current location, closer to the Luján River. The founder of New Pilar was Lorenzo Lopez, who became a hero of the resistance against the English invasions. In 1958 the Town of Pilar was upgraded and turned into a city.

The great boost the municipality has given to the tourist and cultural offers in the past few years, in the City of Pilar and its neighbouring towns, has turned the zone into one of the great weekend destinations for the people of Buenos Aires.

After sunset, teenagers have several possibilities where to choose from to continue enjoying their youthful nightly pleasures, be it at the discotheques or elsewhere. Pilar also has several movies, theatres, restaurants and cafés.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Municipal Palace
The first municipal manager of Pilar was Don Tomas Marquez, and the cornerstone of this building was laid by the Governor of the Province of Buenos Aires, Guillermo Udaondo, in 1896. There are four prison cells behind the building, where according to oral tradition, wanderer Juan Moreira was held prisoner in the late XIX century. Moreira was a character that cultivated the pamphlet gender, and his' weitings were inspired on historical events, popular myths or on material from the police chronicles, which were meant for a rather uncultivated literary public. This building of colonial architecture is located on 660 Rivadavia Av, before the 12 de Octubre Plaza.

Old Pilar
It is a place propitious for archaeological investigations that houses the adobe chapel which witnessed the Treaty of Pilar, signed on February the 23rd of 1820. This treaty marked the birth of national federalism, because its signing came with the ceasefire between the Provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Rios on the one hand, and Buenos Aires on the other, which is one of the main events in the history of Argentina. Pilar is recognised as the cradle of federalism.

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima
This former seminary and current chapel is run by the Serfs of Mary Priests, a Florentine congregation, since 1955. Masses, weddings and christens are celebrated in it. Km 62 of National Route Nş 8.

12 de Octubre Plaza
It is the main plaza, and it is so called in honour of the day of the patron feast of the Virgin of Pilar. It is situated before the Municipal Palace, in the core of the old city, and has been declared National Historic Monument in the year 1942 because of the agreement achieved on the Treaty of Pilar. It is worth a visit for it has a great variety of autochthonous and exotic plant species, and on weekends, especially on Sundays, flashy handicraft vending stands are set on its walks, where local artisans trade interesting objects. A replica of the statue of the Virgin of Pilar was enshrined in it to commemorate the 5th centennial of the discovery of America.

Pilar Village Compound
It is an amusement and recreational compound that houses multiplexes of the last generation, a bingo with electronic machines, and a commercial center with bookshops, music shops, restaurants, theme bars, pubs, food court and parking area. It is located on the descent leading to Chubut St, and you can visit it by day or night.

Church of Our Lady of Pilar
It was built in honour of the Virgin of Pilar, patron of Spain and of the city, and it shelters an image of the Virgin on the inside, coming from the Spanish city of Zaragoza. It is currently the main temple of Pilar, and it is regarded as the oldest parochial church in the entire Province of Buenos Aires. At first, on August the 21st of 1821, when the construction began, adobe was used; later, in 1840, the vault of the main nave and the upper floors were made out of lime. The new city still flourishes around it.

Great reforms were made in 1921 to celebrate the first centennial of the church; the front was altered, the decoration was enhanced and the church tower on the right side was finally completed. An interesting Via Crucis, from the early XVII century and of Italian origins, is also inside this church. This imposing temple was declared a National Historic Monument in 1944. 624, Lorenzo Lopez St, corner with Belgrano.

Cross of Pilar
It is also called the Jesuits Cross, though its origin is unclear; it is said that by the late XVIII century a group of Jesuit missioners going northbound across the country made a stop in this peaceful area, and raised a wooden cross to pray and ask God for protection on their journey; however, there is another version, less spread, that points out that it was a reference point signalling the new location of the town. In any case, the cross was eventually made of masonry and surrounded by an iron grid. P. Lagrave y Parana St.

Homage to Las Malvinas Monument
This monumental work that pays eternal homage to those who defended the sovereignty of Las Malvinas Islands (Falklands) against England is located at the km 6 of Provincial Route Nş 25; and it was unveiled on April the 2nd of 1992, ten years after the struggle with the British forces took place. There is an exact replica of the Catholic Chapel of Santa Maria, in Puerto Argentino, with its classical island style, stained glass windows and an inn for pilgrims coming to visit this place, over a six hs green space. There is a cemetery behind the chapel, similar to that at Port Darwin (Puerto Argentino), displaying sadly the 649 empty tombs of those who died during the Falklands War, or Guerra de Las Malvinas.