Pabellón de Hidalgo
Pabellón de Hidalgo is a small town of about 4600 people (2010) in the Bajio region of Aguascalientes. The town's name hints at its historical role in the Mexican War of Independence from Spain. The town is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Mágicos.
Understand
editGet in
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Several large cities are within a couple hours by car from Pabellon de Hidalgo. The city of Aguascalientes is 30 km south of Pabellon de Hidalgo.
From Zacatecas, León, San Luis Potosi, or Guanajuato, take a bus to Aguascalientes. From the bus station, take a taxi to Pabellon de Hidalgo. It's a 30-minute ride that will cost about M$400.
By car
editFrom Aguascalientes, drive north on federal highway MEX-45 for about 25 kilometers to Pabellon de Arteaga. Turn west (left) on Aguascalientes state highway 20 for the last 5-10 km to Pabellon de Hidalgo.
Get around
editPabellon de Hidalgo is a very small town and is easily navigated by walking, though you may want a bike or moto-taxi to get to the presa (lake). The vineyards are outside of the town so if you want to do winery visits you'll want to hire a taxi or moto-taxi.
See
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- 1 Museo de la Insurgencia (Insurgency Museum, Hacienda de San Blas), C. Pl. 24 de Enero 19, Zona Poniente, ☏ +52 465 958 1802. W-Su 11:00 - 18:00, closed M-Tu. The historic 17th century hacienda casa grande is a beautiful local landmark that exemplifies classic architecture of the colonial era and is an historical landmark that commemorates the removal of Miguel Hidalgo from command of the Insurgency during the Mexican War of Independence. After the Insurgent army was defeated in the battle of Calderon Bridge, they retreated to the Hacienda de San Blas. The Insurgent army blamed Hidalgo's poor command leadership for their defeat and he was removed from command. The museum consists of three main galleries with historical exhibits and is the site of a series of historical murals by contemporary artist Alfredo Flores Zermeno depicting Mexican historical events since Independence. The hacienda encompassed a large area of what is today the town itself and visitors can see the hacienda's botanical gardens (showcasing a selection of cactus species common in the region) as well as ruins of hacienda buildings a couple blocks away.
- 2 Plaza Principal (Rincón de Romos, Zocalo), Calle Plaza 24 de Enero, Centro. The town's main plaza is the heart of downtown. It is a beautifully manicured garden and public space with towering palm trees, and criss-crossed with pathways lined with benches. Great spot for people watching, particularly on Sundays when families gather downtown.
- 3 Parroquia de San Blas, Calle Plaza 24 de Enero, Centro. 17th century church that was originally built as part of the Hacienda de San Blas. Beautiful colonial structure with a very large baroque bell tower and flying buttresses along both walls. The interior is also baroque with a number of period paintings and iconic statues.
- 4 Santa Cruz, Cerro de Santa Cruz. High atop Cerro Santa Cruz, a hill near the San Blas Reservoir, is a large white cross that's lit up at night. This is supposedly the highest cross monument in Mexico. It's also a popular landmark that hikers enjoy climbing for the views of the town, lake, and nearby countryside. In September each year, it's the site of a candellight procession.
Do
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- 1 Presa San Blas (San Blas Reservoir), Calle Emiliano Zapata 217, Zona Poniente. On the west side of town, a dam created an artificial lake. There are ruins of a previous dam and aquaducts, visitors can walk along the top of the dam. The lake is a good place for nature walks or fishing. Other activities at the presa include hiking, horseback riding, picnics, camping, and rock climbing.
Buy
editEat
edit- 1 Botanero Chalino's, Venustiano Carranza 102, Constitución, ☏ +52 465 118 2908. W-M 10:00 - 19:00, closed Tu. Casual place serving light fare. Specializes in seafood. Locals recommend the aguachile toast. M$150.
Drink
editSeveral small wineries near Pabellon de Hidalgo produce some interesting local vintages, particularly full-bodied red wines. Many of the wines produced in Aguascalientes are bound for distilleries producing brandy. Wineries near Pabellon de Hidalgo include:
- Hacienda de Letras
- Vinícola Chacón
- Vinícola Frague
- Vinicola Aguaje
Sleep
editThere are no decent hotels in Pabellón de Hidalgo but Airbnb has a couple listings. The nearest established hotels are in the town of Pabellón de Arteaga (about 5-10 km).