ATTRACTIONS

San Carlos de Bariloche is a small but arresting Alpine city, provided with all the services that a first-class tourist city can offer the visitor to enjoy a deserved rest at any time of the year.

At the foot of Lake Nahuel Huapi and bordered by a series of landscapes which are absolutely enticing, to visit the city of Bariloche is in itself an adventure for the traveler.

This city, one of the principal cities in Patagonia, has a varied infrastructure for gastronomy, lodging and entertainment, including hotels, bungalows, and even casinos and discos.

Besides being famous for its international ski slopes and its fine chocolate, Bariloche is located in an invincible geographical setting: it has a mild weather, unlike the rest of Southern Patagonia. There are four well-marked seasons letting one to take advantage of each activity at the right moment. Moreover, it affords the visitor easy access to the mountain heights, where there are a large number of lodges enabling tours that last several days.

THE CITY
The foundation of San Carlos de Bariloche on May 3, 1902 can also be considered as the starting point of receptive tourism in this region - the watershed point signaling the transformation of a mountain village into a top world-class mountain resort.

That year of 1902, the recently founded town growing in the shadow of the "Sociedad Ganadera y Comercial Chile-Argentina" (which was formed from the firm created by Mr. Carlos Wiederholdt), received a visit from three VIP guests from the city of Chubut.

These were Esteban Lavallol, Aarón Anchorena, and Carlos Lamarca, who edited their opinions in a travel booklet, thus signaling the start of the interest in this area shown by the country's elite families.

Years later, in 1913, the US ex-president Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Bariloche from Chile; in 1916 it was the turn of adventuress traveller Ada M. Elflein, who visited the Lakes with the sponsorship of the La Prensa newspaper and published a book on her impressions; in 1930 the Prince of Wales made a royal visit to the area.

Already in 1913 the firm "Andina del Sud", the property of Ricardo Roth Schutz (1883-1947), had opened up tourist traffic towards Chile. Ten years before, this "world citizen" had brought a group of Frenchmen from Buenos Aires to San Carlos de Bariloche, and from there to Puerto Montt.

Roth Schutz was a real supporter of Central Argentine Patagonian tourism. He was the one who brought vessels to sail on the Nahuel Huapi, Frías and Todos los Santos Lakes; he also built hotels in Puerto Blest and Lake Frías in Argentina, and on the Chilean side in Peulla and Ensenada.

THE CITY CLOSE AT HAND In the "town" as it is usually called by its inhabitants, the tourism area lies around the Centro Civico. A major shopping Street is Mitre, to a lesser extent Moreno and the Streets that intersect with them.

On these trading centres you will find a large number of chocolate factories, places where you can buy smoked meats and fish, textiles, etc., as well as restaurants, fast food eateries, travel agencies and theatres.

The area, world wide famous for its ski runs and its fine chocolate possesses a highly developed hotel infrastructure for visitors' comfort, ranging from hotels and bungalows to casinos and discotheques.

The Centro Cívico (Civic Center)
This is one of the most typical parts of the city; it was the first one to be constructed in the country, and is now a National Historical Monument. It was officially opened in 1940.

Its buildings are in mediaeval-like style, and cluster around the small and picturesque "Expedicionarios del Desierto" Square. It was constructed with cypress and larch wood and piedra toba stone (a dark greenish-gray rock) that was quarried in Mt Carbón, on the south side of the present Nahuel Huapi National Reserve.

At the center of this plaza is the monument to Julio A. Roca. Around it lie the following local government and public buildings: the Municipality, the Municipal Tourism Secretariat, the Police Station, the Patagonian Museum and the Sarmiento Public Library, the former Post Office building (currently an exhibition hall) and the former Customs building.

On the Municipality clock tower, twice a day at noon and 6 p.m. the large clock displays a parade of four figures indicating the local pioneers: an Indian, a missionary, a "conquistador" and a farm labourer.

Mitre St
It starts from one of the arcades of the Centro Cívico. It is the city's main business thoroughfare and, therefore, the most popular strolling area for visitors. It contains a wide range of places of interest and entertainment. A number of regional handcrafts stores and all kinds of shops are found along this major shopping road.

Port of San Carlos
In 1989 the building of the tourist pier and its adjacent construction was begun, in order to recover the port on the Lake that was destroyed by the Chilean seism in Valdivia in 1960. This is an departure point for Lake excursions. There is a restaurant and fast--food area as well as an area for children's games.

Cathedral Church
Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi has been officially made a National Historical Monument. Its construction was begun in 1946 but it was never finished. From the Lakefront its facade and main entrance is seen. This is the only part of the construction that was ended, and it is now a chapel. It is an attractive neo-Gothic building designed by architect Alejandro Bustillo. The stone work is very attractive. Inside, one finds over 45 stained-glass windows or vitraux showing religious and historical episodes related to Patagonia. Every year, in December, the Christmas Choir Festival is held here, featuring the "Coro de Niños y Jóvenes Cantores de Bariloche" (Bariloche Youth Choir), accompanied by some invited choirs and local musicians and ensembles.

Bariloche Andean (Mountaineering) Club
This famous club was founded in 1935 by a group of settlers including Dr. Juan Neumeyer, Emilio Frey, and Otto Meiling. It is a reflection of its Alpine Club counterparts. This is a landmark building in the town, and a reference point in San Carlos de Bariloche.

La Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception Chapel)
Constructed of wood in 1905, this is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It is on Moreno St and was planned by Primo Capraro at the request of Padre Zacarías Genghini. It is in fine-looking surroundings, including a lookout point with a view on downtown and the Cathedral. In 1973 it was brought on rails to its actual location. The interior is lined with paneling and Its exterior is covered with wooden tiles.

Palaeontology Museum
The exhibits include fascinating samples of material from different geological eras, as well as giant spiders and other curiosities.

"Francisco P. Moreno" Patagonian Museum
It was opened by National Parks in 1940 and is housed in the east wing of the Civic Center. It is called after the famed explorer of the Andes and the Patagonian Rivers, who donated the lands that were later transformed by the government into the first National Park in Argentina. It has areas dedicated to natural science, ethnography, pre-history and local and regional history. It also has a library and a bookstore.

THE CITY FROM ITS LOOKOUT POINTS
San Carlos de Bariloche offers visitors the possibility to admire and check out its beautiful scenery from four strategically placed points.

First Lookout Point
You access it by crossing the railway line. After crossing the Escuela de Suboficiales de Policía (Police Academy), you turn right on Cabo Campos Sts. After a 200 m or so upward walk, you get to the lookout point. It actually has two separate points of view.

From the first, you see the city from its eastern tip, the main areas being the former council slaughterhouse, the gasworks and a stretch of the Ñireco River. In the background the Mt Runge and Otto are profiled, and behind them, the Mts Catedral, López and Capilla.

The second viewing point is located further along Campos St, turning left up to Guido Spano St. You get to the district of Covigas and turn left again. From this point you can look down on the station of Ferrocarril General Roca.

Second Lookout Point
Going up Luelmo St, after passing the premises of Club Nahuel Huapi, you make a turn toward the Lake. Once you are facing School Nº 10, walk around the park to get there.

It offers a total view of the Lakeshore part of the city. One can see the buildings holding the "Club de Caza y Pesca" (Hunting and Fishing Club), the Casa de Deportes Municipal (Council Sports House), San Carlos port and the Cathedral. In the backdrop you will see the road to Llao Llao, as well as Huemul Island, San Pedro Peninsula and the López and Capilla Mountains.

Third Lookout Point
If you go along Onelli up to 2 de Agosto St turning left at this point, you will arrive there. It is a longish, winding road, but well worth the trouble, because it gives you a fulll panorama of the city.

Fourth Lookout Point
To get here, you will have to go back along Onelli, taking the turn across La Cumbre Neighboring. At the crossroads with Diagonal Gutiérrez, take the left up Lanín St and continue along Los Muérdagos St.

This is the western tilt of the city, next to the commencement of the Patagonian Andean Forest. You will have a view of the site of the "Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche" (Bariloche Region University Campus) and the Parques Nacionales quarter, as well as the Jardín Botánico neighborhood.