Junín de Los Andes Historical Tour

Marcelo Sola

    This tour around Junín de los Andes will allow you to visit different historical places related to the foundation and development of this city which is located in a fertile valley on the right verge of Chimehuín river, in the southwest of Neuquén Province.

    With the dominant presence of Lanín Volcano - being 3776 meters high and snowed at the top the whole year round- the city lays quietly on the verge of the river with its poplar and willow woods and the greatest patagonic tranquility you can imagine.

    Founded in 1883 as a progressive fortress in the so called " Conquest of the Desert", it started growing and became a frontier town with the typical main square, blocks, lots , country houses and farms spread among wide streets , the river drive and a privileged nature surrounding it.

    To tour around is a gift for the senses, trapping in its centennial streets the still fresh echo of the pioneers' pass, the song of the birds and the marvellous outline of the araucarias.

    You must depart from the Tourism Office located opposite the main square to end up in the current beaches of the river. This is a city tour, you just need comfortable shoes, a cap or hat to protect from the sun, a plan of the city ( taken from the Tourism Office), the camera and all your astonishement capacity.

    The first stop will be at the first " Post Office" to be opened around 1900 ( the exact date is not known since there is no evidence to provide the information ).

    The telegraph was inaugurated in 1916.

    Next, you will see San Martín Square completly covered by araucarias or pehuenes planted by Father Ginés Ponte. He did not choose this tree at random, this millenary conifer is closely related to the sustenance of the mapuche communities - the seed or "piñón" is the base of the diet.

    Being absolutly emblematic - its outline is the center of the Provincial Herald- the pehuén contributes to the design of the square that also has its history. It was created by Colonel Bronsted in 1897 and was originally called "Bartolomé Mitre". Since there was no bust of Mitre and there was one of the Liberator, it was decided to change its name and officially inaugurate it as San Martín Square on 17th. August , 1950.

    Opposite, you will see the First Church on San Martín Street. It was built in 1893 with canes, mud, straw and the will and faith of the first settlers and of the Commander of the Regiment of Infantry of the Mountains Nº 26. The first mass was celebrated on 15th. August, 1897. The building was closed in 1902 since it was almost worn out and collapsed in 1925.

    The tour takes you to the house of one of the first shopkeepers in town. Today, it has become a Museum called after him. He was the youngest of eight brothers , born in Junín , Mr. Moisés Roca Jalil turned the typical warehouse “La Flor del Día” into a valuable historical place.

    There are more than four hundred pieces of mapuche weaves, farm equipment, antiquities, guns, musical instruments, archaeological remains and evidence of the Conquest of the Desert. The whole history of the town is summarized in an unlosable visit. ( Visits are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. You can get more information in the Tourism Office).

    On the corner of the same block, you will see a restaurant which is famous in town called “Ruca Hueney”. In this building, there used to be a hotel called Lanín which was one of the first establishments and was owned by Mr. José Julián.

     You will come to another site of interest - Colegio María Auxiliadora- which was built at the beginning of the XXth. Century by the first Sisters coming from Chile with the purpose of inaugurating a school for the girls of the mapuche community.

    History highlights the story of one of the girls called Laura Vicuña. She had also come from Chile with her mother and sister and settled in Estancia Quilquihue. Her mother was the housekeeper and the two girls went to the school as pupils. When she realized that her mother was living as concubine of the owner of the Estancia - something being frowned on and considered a sin- , she decided to offer her life to redeem her and died on 22nd. January 1904 when she was 13 after suffering from a long illness.

    As you go on the tour, on the corner of Ginés Ponte Street and Don Bosco Street , you will see the Sanctuary Nuestra Señora de las Nieves y Laura Vicuña, where the basal stone of the church is shown.

    In this Sanctuary, the mortal remains of Father Domingo Milanesio are kept. He was the first Salesian to come to evangelize in the area. The Sanctuary has recently been inaugurated again and its current design shows the unity between the Catholic Religion and the Mapuche cosmovision. At the entrance, there is a handicraft case that shows a vertebra that belonged to Laura Vicuña and was taken from Bahía Blanca City.

    The Town Hall and Centenario Square are just opposite the Sanctuary. The mortal remains of Sergeant Major Miguel Vidal are in this piece of land- he was the founder of the advanced post that gave birth to the town.
    You will also visit the Mapuche Museum with archaeological and paleontological elements from the whole province - musical instruments, handicrafts and maps showing the location of the communities are among the elements shown.

    On the corner, on Lamadrid Street there used to be a hotel, the first hotel of the town. Today, there is a private house. The hotel was built by the regional stockbreeders and was called Argentinian Hotel. It was mostly made of wood and the Office of the Chilean Consul was in one of its rooms. The owners of the Estancias also stayed there when they came to participate in the Horse Races. It was pulled down in the '80's.

    Two blocks ahead, you will see Chimehuín Inn built in 1947. It is famous because of the politeness of the owners –José Julián y Elena Koller and the dishes they prepare.

    The client were mainly sport fishers that came from Capital or from abroad attracted by the rivers and lakes of the region.

    Along Chimehuin River, you will enjoy the green trees reflexing on the calm water - a paradise that is ideal to rest and bring back to your mind all the images you have observed along the tour.