“PUERTO VARAS: THE CITY OF ROSES”

Rose Marie Kuschel R.

June 06^th, 2007.

The city of Puerto Varas (named to honor Manuel Montt and Anotonio Varas, both intellectual mentors of the colonization) is located only 10 miles (16 km. approximately) north of Puerto Montt, the capital city of Los Lagos Region. The city was founded as a consequence of the German colonization promoted by Vicente Perez Rosales in 1854. During this time, Germans were offered lands around Llanquihue Lake to settle and farm that territory. Puerto Varas was founded as the main port of the lake and connected by a road to the nearest seaport, Puerto Montt. The great growth Puerto Montt has had during the last decade, helped Puerto Varas become a residential town and an important tourist destination, probably one of the favorite destinations all over the country.

Puerto Varas was built in a natural landscape formed by the Llanquihue Lake, the second largest lake in Chile and the third largest natural lake in South America, and by Osorno and the Calbuco Volcanoes. On the western shore of Llanquihue Lake there are located other important tourist destinations such as Puerto Octay, Frutillar, and Llanquihue.

People visiting Puerto Varas will recognize two of the most important city attractions considered part of the German influence: it’s wonderful gastronomy and beautiful surroundings, including well–kept gardens and avenues full of trees and flowers, especially roses of all kinds and colors. That is the reason why this town is also known as “The City of Roses.” The idea of planting roses along the city was established during the government of Teobaldo Kuschel Kneer, the mayor of the city from 1958 to 1695. He wanted to give Puerto Varas a special characteristic that could distinguish this place from the rest of the cities and towns located in the same region. The idea of having roses decorating the main avenues and public places is still very strong and important in the area. In fact, every year there is a special contest where the Botanical Garden in the city chooses the most beautiful and ornamented private garden. The winner besides winning money also wins the opportunity to be considered as the owner of the house with the most beautiful garden in the entire city.

The German style architecture typical of southern cities along with excellent gastronomy can be observed all day and night at each of the wonderful sites attracting visitors. People wanting to go out may decide whether visiting coffee-shops, pubs or restaurants that may be in small simple houses or luxurious places where you may enjoy eating the most delicious dishes. In this city, the presence of salmon is very strong and considered one of the favorite dishes. Shellfish is also very common. People who really don’t like seafood may enjoy wonderful barbeques with a great variety of meat including lamb, cow, pork, goat, etc. This city is also well known for its brewery and cheese factories, but mostly because of the ancestral pastry, desserts, chocolates and all kind of sweets brought along with the first German colonists. In Puerto Varas were you may have the opportunity to taste the most delicious marmalade prepared with natural ingredients and the most delicious recipes that are impossible to find even in Germany now because of the immigration process that occurred years ago.

Besides good food and beautiful surroundings, people visiting this city may have the chance to practice in multiple adventure sports, including hiking, Tyrolese ropes, rock climbing and canoeing. People from the area usually offer tourists “eco - adventure tours” because the environment gives the possibility to practice and enjoy a wide variety of activities and sports in the magnificent area all through the year.

Puerto Varas is undoubtedly a unique place in the world and a city that offers bit of everything for everybody. It has the great advantage of being connected with other countries such as San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina through the International Route and it is just a few minutes by car or bus from other important places. The same international route allows access to other tourist destinations often visited by tourists through the year such as Ensenada and the Petrohué and Peulla River Falls.

So, if you want to spend an unforgettable vacation alone or with company, never forget that Puerto Varas will offer you a great variety of activities and great places to visit without having to travel or move from the city. The most important thing is that you will have the opportunity to taste the most delicious sweets and food you could ever imagine.