Discover Villa De Cos: Temples, Town Center and Haciendas

The history of Villa De Cos is linked to salt distribution, temple construction and former haciendas. In the town, a protected historic center and several temples draw attention to its architectural history and urban development. Former hacienda complexes in the surrounding municipality add to this picture. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, distinguishing between the town center and the places in the municipality can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

The history of salt and the town’s name

On December 15, 1562, the city council ordered the owners of processing haciendas established in the state of Zacatecas to gather in Salina Grande, later Villa de Cos. The purpose was to distribute salt. This early reference to the town concretely links Villa de Cos to the history of salt processing and haciendas in the region.

The town’s name also tells the story of its development: It was later called Villa de San Cosme and eventually named Villa de Cos in honor of José Ma. Cos, a patriot priest who supported the insurgents. September 27 is associated with San Cosme. This story behind the name gives your exploration its own historical thread, alongside the buildings associated with the town today.

Temples and the protected town center

The Nacional Presbiteriano stands on the main square, a few meters from the Villa de Cos municipal government building. Its facade is plastered; the entrance surrounds and columns are made of pink quarry stone. Construction of the temple began in 1870. Under Mexico’s Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historic Monuments and Zones, it is considered historic. A plaque on the building identifies the temple as the first of its kind built in Mexico. Its location, materials and the classification stated on the plaque make it a prominent historic landmark on the main square.

Another temple is San Cosme y San Damián, an architectural monument dating from the 17th century. The historic town center of Villa de Cos also includes a protected area of 11-85-49 ha. It contains urban features and buildings of historic, cultural and architectural value. Those especially interested in architectural history can appreciate the individual temples and the protected town center as distinct aspects of the cultural heritage.

Hacienda sites in the municipality

Traces of former hacienda complexes can also be found in the surrounding municipality. Much of the historic core of the former Hacienda de Sierra Hermosa survives, with buildings made of adobe. Bread, cheese and other dairy products were made at the hacienda. The Virgen del Rosario temple is part of the former Hacienda Bañón complex. In Pozo Hondo, the main building, the San Elías temple and remains of the former estancias have survived. These places differ in the architectural remains described: one has a temple within a hacienda complex, while the other preserves a main building, a temple and remains of former estancias.

The history of Guadalupe de las Corrientes is also linked to Pozo Hondo. The place was initially an estancia belonging to Pozo Hondo and later became a hacienda. It also extended into the municipality of Villa de Cos and into Nieves (General Francisco R. Murguía). When choosing where to stay, it is therefore worth distinguishing between the main square and historic town center of Villa de Cos, on the one hand, and the hacienda sites in the surrounding municipality, on the other.

Discover more places: Jalpa, Río De Medina, Río Frío, Villanueva, Sombrerete, Plateros, Fresnillo and Jerez De García Salinas.

For the broader travel overview: Zacatecas.