San Luis Potosi Resources |
| SLP Directory |
| State Overview |
| La Huasteca |
| - Xilitla & Las Pozas |
| - Taninul Resort |
| Real de Catorce |
| Weather |
Real de Catorce
Real de Catorce is a former silver-mining community located at an altitude of over 9,000 feet, in the dry, craggy mountains of north-western San Luis Potosí.
The town was established in the late 1700's with the opening of the
first silver mines. The town prospered, filled with a rich society
and thriving businesses, into the early 1800's until the War of Independence
and a tremendous drop in the price of silver forced an exodus of Spanish
mine management personnel and businessmen, leaving the few local laborers
that were left behind to fend largely for themselves for several decades.
In 1863 a wealthy Spanish family with the name of De la Maza 
made
its appearance, bringing funds for the repair and maintenance of the
mining equipment and gainful employment to the townspeople for a number
of years as silver continued to be found in the area.
Access to the town is via a largely cobblestoned road which at one point goes through the Ogarrio Tunnel, which was designed by Vicente Irizar in the late 1800's under the initiative of the De la Maza counts. The first dinamite ever used in Mexico was used for it's construction. The cobblestoned tunnel was opened to traffic at the turn of the century. It is very narrow, permitting only alternating, one-way traffic, and about 3 kilometers long.
The town again went into decline with the unrest of the early 1900's and it's population dwindled to almost nothing. After the Revolution, it's church became a place of pilgrimage for the religious, and the Huichol indians from neighboring states make long, rugged journeys through the desert territory to gather peyote buttons for their sacred rituals.
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Local Attractions and Facilities
Church of the Immaculate Conception - built in 1780, the church is the focal point of the town and brings thousands of pilgrims yearly to pay homage to the patron saint, Saint Francis of Assisi, on October 4th. The religious festival is a week-long event and includes processions, indigenous dances and music.
Casa de la Moneda - built by the de la Maza's to house the Mint, the 3-story building is now a hotel with the colorful reputation of still harboring the ghost of Don de la Maza, counting and moving around his hoard of silver.
Hotel el Mesón de la Abundancia - is located in a building built in the middle of the 19th C., with rich wood floors and staircases. TEl. (488) 887-5044.
Hotel el Real - Tel. (488) 887-5058
Hotel La Puesta del Sol - Tel. (488) 887-5005, 887-5010
Restaurants: Check out the food at the Restaurante El Cactus (Italian food, homemade bread) and the El Minero Restaurant
Description of Real de Catorce, history, geography, etc.
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