Catorce: Mining History and Pilgrimage Routes

Those interested in mining history, pilgrimage traditions and a high-altitude setting in the Sierra will find many different points of interest in Catorce. Real de Catorce is a former mining settlement in the Altiplano region, founded around 1778. The town lies in the Sierra de Catorce, in the state of San Luis Potosí, at an altitude of 2,750 metres. This combination of a historic settlement and mountain scenery alone gives a trip here a distinctive focus.

Mining History in Buildings and Remains

Real de Catorce was declared a Historic Monuments Zone on 29 November 2012. This zone includes 123 historic monuments from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Casa de Moneda is one of the defining chapters in the town’s mining history: the Antigua Casa de Moneda was built by Santos de la Maza from 1863, opened in 1865 and closed a year later. It operated from 1865 to 1866. This brief period can be seen during a visit as a specific chapter in the town’s history.

Other buildings tell of different aspects of public life. The Palenque de Gallos has stone-carved seating arranged in a way reminiscent of Greek theatres. Remains of the Plaza de Toros can still be seen. The former Plaza del Comercio was redesigned as a garden in 1885; in 1888, wrought-iron arches were added to form arcades. A bell bears the inscription “Guadalupe, febrero 16 de 1892”. Together, these details offer different insights into the town’s history, which is not limited to mining.

Pilgrimage Tradition and Protected Landscape

The temple dedicated to the Purísima Concepción houses an image of Saint Francis of Assisi. Every year on 4 October, it is venerated by hundreds of pilgrims. This fixed annual date makes religious tradition a particularly tangible part of local life. Distinct from this is the traditional Wixárika pilgrimage route, which crosses the municipality of Catorce in an area the Wixárika people call Wirikuta.

The name of a state-protected area also points to this cultural landscape: the Área Natural Protegida Sitio Sagrado Natural de “Wirikuta y la Ruta Histórico Cultural del Pueblo Wixárika” includes the municipality of Catorce. Those interested in the connection between landscape and pilgrimage tradition can consider these elements alongside the historic sites of Real de Catorce. They relate to different scales of travel: the buildings and traces of the settlement on the one hand, and the route and wider area on the other.

On Foot, on Horseback or Along Rugged Tracks

The Túnel de Ogarrio is 2.3 kilometres long, runs through solid rock and leads to Real de Catorce. Visitors can get around on foot in the town; various tourist attractions are close to one another. Certified tour guides with valid credentials in accordance with NOM-09-TUR offer another way to find your bearings.

There are various ways to explore the surrounding area. Willys, rugged precursors to the Jeep, can be rented in Real de Catorce. They are used to explore rough tracks and trails, as well as the semi-desert plains and highlands nearby. The area can also be explored on horseback. Pueblo Fantasma offers a different kind of excursion: its ruins consist of former processing haciendas belonging to the Minas de Concepción and the Compromiso shaft. The visit includes a walk of about an hour, with views of the hills and a panoramic view of the town.

The town’s history, pilgrimage connections and different ways of exploring the area can all be experienced side by side. When looking for a holiday rental in Catorce, you can consider whether you want your trip to focus mainly on historic sites and traditions or on excursions in the surrounding area. The experiences described differ considerably in format: from a walk through the town, to the roughly hour-long walk at Pueblo Fantasma, to exploring rugged tracks in a Willys.

Discover More Places

If you would like to broaden your search to include other destinations, also consider Estación Catorce, Charcas and Huehuetlán.

For the broader travel overview: San Luis Potosí.