Discover Guadalupe: A Magical Pueblo in Zacatecas's Historic Valleys

The Bajio region has many colonial treasures and stories to tell; walking through its cobblestone streets, visiting its monuments and architectural gems is part of its charm. Very close to the capital of Zacatecas is one of those sites that is worthwhile, we are talking about Guadalupe.

 

Guadalupe, Zacatecas, is a Pueblo Magico (Magical Town) located in the center of the state, in what is known as La Región de los Valles (The Region of the Valleys). In spite of its proximity to the most important city of the state, it has its own brightness and safeguards many experiences for those traveling alone, in couples, or with the family.

 

By road, Guadalupe is 10 minutes from the capital of Zacatecas, one hour from Fresnillo, one hour and 20 minutes from Aguascalientes, 2 hours from San Luis Potosi, and 3 hours from Leon, Guanajuato.

 

The climate in Guadalupe is temperate semi-dry with an average temperature of 16º C ( 61º F), although during the summer the thermometers can reach more than 25º C ( 77º F). Due to its location, it rains little during the summer and winters are usually cold, specifically during the months of December and January.

 

The name by which this Pueblo Mágico is currently known has to do with the foundation of El Convento de Guadalupe (The Convent of Guadalupe), which occupies the land where La Capilla de la Virgen del Carmen (The Chapel of the Virgin of Carmen) was located, which by 1680 was in ruins. Jerónima de Castilla, the widow of Diego de Melgar, donated this space and other lands so Zacatecas could have a Guadalupan temple similar to Tepeyac in Mexico City.

 

What attracted the first settlers of Guadalupe was the discovery of the Mines of the Zacatecas in 1546. Due to its proximity to the city of Zacatecas, this territory also began to establish orchards and cattle ranches that supplied food to La Muy Noble y Leal Ciudad de Nuestra Señora de los Zacatecas (The Very Noble and Loyal City of Our Lady of Zacatecas).

 

Guadalupe preserves a great part of its Colonial Cultural Heritage, so we recommend you to wear comfortable shoes to walk through the streets of this city that, since 2010, is part of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (Royal Road of the Land Inside) registered in the UNESCO World Heritage list.