SURROUNDING AREAS, TOURING AND NOTABLE PLACES
Route to Ciudad
Juarez ? Begin the
tour by boarding the
Chihuahua-Pacifico (Chepe) train at
the Creel station, taking the route that
heads in the direction of the
city of Chihuahua. The first stops
are the San Juanito and Cuauhtemoc stations, where you can visit one
of the largest
Mennonite communities in the nation and
try the delicious
cheeses that they make. Next,
you?ll arrive at the city
of Chihuahua, where you can check out the historic monuments and notable buildings, such as the Palacio de Gobierno, which has beautiful murals that chronicle
the state?s history. It also
has a room with various weapons on display and
another room dedicated to Miguel Hidalgo. Nearby, you can visit the Plaza Hidalgo, where you?ll see
a monument that pays tribute to the heroes of
the independence movement. Also of interest, next
to the Plaza Mayor, lies the Iglesia de San
Francisco, a historic building
where the body of independence
hero Miguel Hidalgo is buried. There you
can also see the emblematic Angel de la Libertad. During your stay in Chihuahua, a must-see is
the Cathedral, an edifice with
a beautiful exterior and a double altar inside; one is of
pink hewn stone and the
other is of Carrara marble.
Other places you?ll want to visit
are the Museo Casa de Juarez,
an old house
that has important documents and personal objects of Benito Juarez, and the
Centro Cultural Universitario Quinta Gameros, which is one
of the most
beautiful examples of eclectic French
architecture in Latin America and an
important cultural venue. The cultural center?s collection of art
nouveau furniture combines well with the
beautiful stained-glass windows and
the elegant staircases and chandeliers. The Museum of the
Mexican Revolution, once the house of
Francisco Villa, has the original furniture
and adornments. In addition, in the rear patio, you can see a large collection
of weapons and the car
in which Pancho Villa was shot. When you?re
ready to move on, you
can rent a car and take Highway
45 D to one of two destinations.
The first one is the
Paquime archaeological zone. To get
there, take the Highway 10 turnoff, which will lead you
to the most
important ruins in the northern region.
The other option is to
continue northbound on Highway 45 for
351 km
(217 mi)
until you reach Ciudad Juarez. This important border city offers
an interesting mix of old
and new. From there, you
can head to the Samalayuca Sand Dunes, which
lie 51
km (32 mi) from
Ciudad Juarez. This sand dune region
spans 150
km (495 mi). While
you?re there you can see various cave paintings, which allow you
to understand more about the history
and ancient inhabitants of the area. During
your stay in Ciudad Juarez, we recommend
that you visit the Mission
of Guadalupe, a beautiful
16th-century building
with impressive girders and finely
sculpted pillars. Next to the
mission is the Cathedral. It has two towers
and a neoclassical façade, which stands
in contrast to the austere interior. Inside the cathedral,
light enters through stained-glass windows. Nearby, you can visit the Juarez
market, where you can buy all
kinds of regional crafts and other
items produced throughout the nation. The market
also has food stalls. If you?d
like to visit
a very interesting museum, take the
Juarez-Porvenir Highway to Km 29, in Valle de Juarez, where you?ll
find the San Agustin Museum. This place has permanent exhibits of old
maps, photos of Ciudad Juarez and mammoth fossils
that are about 400 million years old,
among other objects. Later, you can take Highway
45 to return to Chihuahua.
Touring the State?s Southeastern Region ? Departing
from El Divisadero train station, head in the
direction of Chihuahua
along Highway 45 until you reach Delicias. There you can visit the Hotel del Norte, which has a notable interior design
and numerous antiques. You can also visit the
Paleontology Museum, where you can see
mummies, collections of pre-historic
plants and animals, dinosaur bones and the
remains of a mammoth. For a pleasant tour, you can take a boat down
the Conchos River to the Rosetilla Dam. Departing from Delicias, take Highway 45 D for about 65 km (40 mi) until
you arrive at Ciudad Comargo, where you can visit
the beautiful gardens of the
Hotel Hidalgo and the old train station,
both of which
will take you back to the
times of the Mexican Revolution. Other interesting attractions include the Templo de Santa Rosalia, the Clock Tower
(a city symbol) and the Hacienda Masteñas, which was one of
the first Mexican farms to
breed and raise Hereford cattle. There?s also the Hacienda de San Antonio
de la Ramada,
a 16th-century construction
that was Comargo?s first villa. The next day,
you can wake up early and visit
a thermal water swimming resort called El Ojo Caliente. After that, you can get
back on Highway 45 D and drive 145
km (90 mi) to
Hidalgo del Parral, where you
can check out the Parroquia de San Jose. This edifice
has a façade with hewn stone columns
and buttresses with gargoyles. Near the Plaza Juarez, you?ll find an inclined
tree that marks the site
where Francisco Villa was assassinated. You can also visit the
Museum of General Francisco
Villa, which has a library and photo archive. Another interesting attraction is the
Templo de la Virgen
de Fatima, which has an interior that is difficult to
describe unless you have actually seen
it. If you
get the chance,
you should also check out the Palacio de
Alvarado, which has preserved
its original design and furniture. To return, take
highways 24 and 16 D.
