The rich cultural heritage of Puyuhuapi
The town of Puyuhuapi, located in the commune of Cisnes in the north of the Aysén region, is a cultural and gastronomic assembly with Chilota-Huilliche roots that experienced important colonization since 1935 in southern Chile. We see it today in its gastronomy, with establishments that serve delicious German elevenses and local products from the sea and land, and in its architecture through its wooden houses very similar to those we could find in a small German town. The magic of nature completes a unique landscape in this town thanks to the fact that it is nestled between snow-capped mountains, evergreen forests and the waters of a majestic southern fjord. In addition, it is the gateway for those traveling from the north and want to visit the Queulat National Park.
From its coastline we can see the Puyuhuapi Channel and some boats anchored near the shore of a stony beach, from where it is possible to see sea lions and dolphins. Very close there we headed towards one of the most photographed tourist landmarks in the village: a small “monument” in the shape of a traditional wooden house that says Puyuhuapi and that has a window that tourists use to take photos with the fjord in the background. .
The town square is equally beautiful. Its floor is made of stone and cobblestones, with a sun-shaped figure in its center, and next to some benches we can enjoy some mosaics that portray Puyuhuapi from its beginnings. There is a puma, a heron and a boat entering the bay, which represents the 4 German settlers who arrived in the 1930s with their Chilote workers. Otto Uebel, Karl Ludwig, Walter Hopperdietzel and Ernesto Ludwig were those who led the construction of the village.
From there many people arrived who began to work on the farm with the Germans to grow their industries in a sawmill and livestock and a carpet factory, which had more than 30 women workers.
A nice example of a colonial house that we found in the town and that is very interesting to visit in Puyuhuapi, is Casa Ludwig, a Historical Monument that dates back to 1953 and was built by Ernesto Ludwig, the youngest of the 4 Germans who arrived in 1935 to form a human settlement in the middle of nature. The house was a Bed & Breakfast for many years and is now run by a family from Punta Arenas descendants of settlers. The place has 10 rooms and capacity for about 25 people.
Today in Puyuhuapi they say they are proud of the people and cultures that have shaped their present, but they say they do not feel like Germans, Huilliches or Chileans from other locations. They are, simply, Puyuhuapinos.
Categorías - People - History - Roadtrip - Culture - Architecture - Accesible Heritage - Family