Introduction
This place gathers the memories of aboriginal people who fisrt inhabited this place and whose history of brave character and valuable actions is raised flag raised by the inhabitants of the province and by people from all the regions which conform the so-called Guanenta Province , named alter the Cacique Guane who led the groups of his tribe and finally left as a heritage a beautiful land that simple wakes the pride of its people.
Barichara, reddish and yellowish, is today a beautiful site paved with fine stone located on a plane that limits the Suarez River. There, is kept the ancient tradition of constructing, lined up to create a harmonious place standing on uniform stones.
This set of connstructions was honored , some years ago, as one of the most beautiful places all around the country, and it is known as a nacional monument.
This town has been consolidate as one of the most important turistic destinations which attracts people from around the country and people from abroad due to its charming strees ,churches and well preserved houses. The story started three centuries ago when an image of the Virgen appeared over a stone near the place where it is standing the Inmaculada Concepción church , one of the architectural symbols of the region.
And in Barichara the stone continues to be sculptured and walls are raised according to the old architecture. Thus, this land is honored and the best of it is extracted to make this place a scenery of artists , artisans and poets, where the quietness of this magestic natural and architectural magestic turns into an inspiring strength.
Looking for a plain and confortable tiristic accomodation in Colombia near the peaceful Barichara Town , is one the first steps to take in order to approach this beautiful piece of land where there are magnificent hirizons that become a great adventure.
¡Welcome!
Climate
The geographical location and altitude (1.300 meters above sea level), give Barichara a mild climate ranging between 19 and 28 centigrades. Mornings are a little cold , as well as some areas at the southern part.
Location
Barichara is part of the Guanenta Province, towards the central East of Santander state.
The mountains that set its limists as well as those of the region belong to the East cordillera. It is located 18 kilometers away from Bucaramanga the capital city, 300 kilometers from the north of Bogota , and 20 kilometers from San Gil which is the capital of the province.
Culture and Traditions
The territory where Barichara lies, besides being the seat for the Guane town, Was also the scenery for the pro-men who started the Comuneros Revolution leading to the first demands for independe of the Neogranadino town. From the warriors who fight for the independence, remains the courage and the strong character in the inhabitants, and also the manufacturing of objects tha became artworks.
The display of Barichara stone starts as soon as you come into the town where you can observe the first artisans workshops , whose materials they extract from rocks and then are shape into beautiful pieces of art , which later ornament the town streets and are also taken to other parts of the country to decorate people´s houses. Information: Eduardo Silva Tel. (7) 7267468 Cel. 315 7956043.
Attractives
PROVINCIA DE GUANENTÁ
Esta subregión del departamento es una completa muestra de su geografía y de sus costumbres y tradiciones culturales. En la provincia quedaron asentados pueblos y paisajes en los que hombres y mujeres, talentosos y arrojados sacan el mejor provecho de su tierra para hacerla uno de los destinos más llamativos de Colombia.
Hacen parte de la provincia de Guanentá, entre otras poblaciones: Barichara, San Gil, Guane, Curití, Páramo, Mogotes y Pinchote. Cada lugar con sus buenos motivos para ser visitado y conocido a fondo.
BARICHARA
It is a place that honors the history and the architectural works of ancient people which is renewed everyday, because of the new construction or its peoples´ devotion to keep the old houses renewed. The construction material these houses are made of the mix of earth with horse wastes and other components, and the stone artwork by the artisans are two of the most important elements of the appereance of the town.
And thus, such structures are found in most of the places in Barichara that conform it.
Temple of the Inmaculada Concepcion and San Lorenzo
It is located on one corner of the main square and this church is dedicated to the patrons of Barichara. It is considered one of the most beautiful structures in the country with two towers 22 meters high and the ten monolitical columns by which it is supported inside.
House Museum of Aquileo Parra
People from Santander show great respect and pride for the only president of Colombia born in this state, right in this house located at the lower part of the town.
House of Culture Emilio Pradilla Gonzalez
This is a place for private conferences and exhibitions, artwork store, and a museum of traditions and antiques.
Workshop of manual skills of Barichara
It was open in 2007 and it is a nonprofit institution which trains people in the developing of different skills such as the sculpting rocks, ceramics, knitting, and regional culinary.
Municipal Mayor´s Office
In the inside of this big house there is a monument that represents the famous "hormiga culona". This place has wide halls and balconies with a beautiful view of the garden.
Cemetery and Jesus Chapel
At the upper part of the town we find the cementery and its chapel which has yellow stones and most of them are sculpted with old data stories.
Park for Arts Jorge Delgado Sierra
There you can see the talent of the artisans of the region and from 11 countries, who left 22 sculptures for the visitors to admire.
Santa Barbara Chapel
It is located at the end of the royal street in front a small square named after the chapel and it is decorated with a giant ceiba an. ancient tree. It was built in the XVIII century where couples like to celebrate their weddings, and it is a place where concerts and exhibitions are held.
San Antonio Chapel
Don Narciso Reyes was a gentleman who promoted the raising of this temple which was blessed on June 13 in 1931.
Barichara Lookout
It is divided into two sections and it measures 600 meters. From this place you can appreciate the sunset together with a glass of wine or a cup of a delicious coffee. You can also view the royal path to Guane and the explendor of the landscape that wraps up Barichara.
GUANE AND THE ROYAL PATH
This peaceful village is paved with stones and it is as pretty as Barichara. It is located on what was supposed to be a sea a hundred years ago, where you can see a lot of fossils that ornament the streets, the main square and some of them are also kept at the paleolithic and archaeological museum, as cultural and historic information about the indigenous town. There is the Santa Lucia church in the park, a place to admire for its structure.
The manual skills of the Guanes were transferred to the indigenous people who are skilled at knitting and sculpting clay. Their artworks are exhibited in some shops and on the stands they put in the central square every Sunday.
To get to this fascinating town you can take the paved road, however, it is very pleasant to travel along the 5 kilometers of the stoned Royal Path which leads to Barichara.
A magnificent artwork used by the Spanish colonists as a path between the center and west part of the country, as well as a way to Cartagena and Venezuela.
The path is easily seen from Barichara lookout and it has been declared a national monument.
SAN GIL AND PARK EL GALLINERAL
San Gil is a great town with city characteristics in where the main square stands out, as well as the colonial houses, the San Francisco Temple and the streets along known as the snails of the 12th and the 13th. During the day San Gil is the spot where everybody gathers to do business and to develop activities for visitors who come from all around the country. At night visitors can take long walks all along the streets up and down, and those quiet streets are ideal to sit down at any place to have a cup of coffee.
From the lookout "Él Cerro de la Cruz", there is an excellent view of San Gil, and green sceneries full of trees .paths, caves and water falls.
The Natural Park El Gallineral is located in the center of the town and it is also a good walk for turists to take.
This reservoir of 4 hectares is a set of walking paths and trees of different kinds such as higueron, yarumo, cedro, guayacan and gallinero. Those species are mostly covered by parasite weeds forming the extense beards which are a symbol of the park.
There you can feel the rushing of the Curiti River going parallel along the paths to finally rest in the Fonce River. To listen to the pleasant sound of the river it is worth to stop at the small squares that lead to the stoned paths. There, besides the information about the vegetation of the place, there is information available about the other former towns of the province of Guanenta.
The Adventure
San Gil, Barichara and the whole province are well known internationally because their landscapes are perfect to practice extreme sports. The caves, the Chicamocha canyon, the cascades, the royal paths and the mountains are views willing to receive travellers from everywhere. (For more information see activities section).
Chicamocha Canyon and the National Park
The initial idea of constructing a park at the edge of the mountain was at the beginning a crazy idea, an odisey to carry on. Despite that, the National Park of Chicamocha is standing tall as magestic as the canyon which is the pride of Santander people today.
An important part of the adventure is to visit the monument to the Santandereanidad, which was sculptured by Master Guillermo Vallejo Vargas, on a tobacco leave showing the former inhabitants´ bravery who brought airs of freedom to the nation.
The chapel is a replica of Santander town, boggies track, ostrich Park, goats Park, and jumping platforms for the cable flight that goes over the canyon, are part of the attractions that visitors will meet as soon as they get into this place from the entrance traced by the 8 columns that represent the provinces of Santander.
There is also a lookout in Panachi with a 360° view over the Chicamocha canyon a place that requires to be taken into account because of its geographical reference. You can see the gliders from this point defying the inmensity of the canyon. To complement what this place offers, there is a cablecar that descends down the river and goes up again up to the top over the plain of the Saints, the mountain in front of the park.
Additional Information:
National Park of Chicamocha: Km 54 way to Bucaramanga – Bogotá, municipio de Aratoca.
Tel. (7) 6569006 / 6782404
info@parquenacionaldelchicamocha.com
www.parquenacionaldelchicamocha.com
Oscar Figueroa Cel. 310 3002971.
PaRAMO
The inhabitants of this town clarify that the name does not come from the cold climate but because the founder was named Juan Nepomuceno Paramo in 1768. On the other hand, the place altitude -1.127 meters above the sea level, guarantees an average temperature of 23o C. There are three aspects that attract people who go by the Socorro way and San Gil- The sanctuary and the devotion for the virgin of health, the sweets and typical food and the natural surroundings such as the Indio Cave and the Cascades of Juan Curi.
CURITi
A few minutes later after leaving Bucaramanga there is a short cut towards Curiti, a land of knitters where the artwoks with the fique is a famous tradition represented in bags, sandals, belts and different accessories. Besides this art, there are natural sceneries such as the Cow Cave ,the natural park the Santuary and the Pescaderito Balneario. Being close to San Gil, Curiti is also an excellent departure point to start the adventure to the province of Guanenta.
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