Discover Janos: A Historic Borderland in Chihuahua

Among springs and water sources, Janos emerged in Chihuahua, a place that has a privileged biosphere with endemic species, more than 2 thousand archeological sites and one of the three oldest missions in the state. Travel, visit and explore this destination full of history and culture.

 

Janos is considered the last viceroyalty border and the gateway to the State of Sonora and New Mexico, in the United States. Due to its geographic location on the northwestern end of Chihuahua, it borders on the south with the municipality of Casas Grandes.

 

The Historic Center is the town's heart, the ideal place to learn about the history that dates from 1580 when it emerged, but it was founded by the Franciscans in 1640 as a mission under the name of Soledad de Janos.

 

Its name comes from the Janos, the main tribe of the region, which is now extinct. But the indigenous uprisings led to the destruction of the mission and by the viceregal authority, military prisons were created, the point where a fixed military company was established to fight the rebels. In 1686 the foundation of the Real Presidio was approved by the kingdom's governor, José de Neira y Quiroga. In 1820 it was erected as a municipality.

 

When you walk through the streets of Janos, the first thing you will see is the “Camellón Janos”, the tourist and cultural passage located at the main entrance. Its representative symbol is the bison and it has the legend “ La última pradera” (The last meadow), which alludes to the ecological reserve.

 

With almost 400 years since it was built, the Mission of La Soledad de San Felipe and Santiago de Janos, is one of the three oldest in the state. It was built in 1665 by the Franciscans Fray García de San Francisco and Fray Benito de la Natividad.

 

The church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores or Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Janos, was built in 1640.

 

Its rich gastronomy is based on plates with roasted meat, crushed with egg, meat with red bell pepper, barbecue and roasted with red bell pepper.

 

Janos is a little known place but has land like few others, although its weather is arid extreme, the cultural range is wide. Visit the Biosphere Reserve and the Cerro la Juanaqueña.