The Ex Hacienda de Chautla was built on a natural site that King Charles III of Spain granted to Manuel Rodríguez de Pinillos y López Montere, First Marquis of La Selva Nevada, on November 17, 1777.
At its highest splendor in the last quarter of the 19th century, when it became the property of Eulogio Gregorio Gillow y Zavala. A priest of English descent who, when he inherited the Hacienda in 1877, was emerging as the most prominent prelate of the Mexican Catholic Church.
The construction’s importance
The history of the Ex Hacienda explains the economic importance and magnificence of the constructions that took place at the end of the 19th century.
The Hacienda spread across six hectares; it had four electric power plants, maguey plantations and three tinacales (buildings that stored the pulque). Making it a powerful pulque estate. In 1903, the first hydroelectric plant in Latin America was built with the Atoyac River dam.
It is said that Eulogio Gillow strove to make a small Versailles out of it. He set up to have symmetrical gardens built, along with a dam to form an artificial lake and a castle with red walls guarded by four towers.
This construction received the name of “Castillo de Chautla” (Castle of Chautla). In the Náhuatl language, this means “land from which water emanates”.
In the main house’s garden, which is found at the main entrance, is the “Fuente de las Tres Teresas” (Fountain of the Three Teresas) made out of talavera ceramics.
Events and services at the Ex Hacienda
After Gillow’s death in 1922, the Hacienda dwindled, but its main constructions were not damaged.
Today, the Ex Hacienda has a mountain bike track, trout and sport fishing, three zip lines, and boat and canoe rentals for trips on the lake.
Likewise, activities such as archery and rock climbing may be available, depending on the season.
Different soap operas, movies and music videos have been recorded at the site. It currently belongs to the government of the State of Puebla.
At the start of 2014, the center building of the Ex Hacienda opened its doors to visitors as a hotel. According to its website, it has 37 rooms, a restaurant, a spa, and a multipurpose room, with a capacity for 100 people for banquets.
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POB/LFJ
