São Roque De Minas: Church, Festival Culture and Canastra Cheese

São Roque De Minas brings together a clearly defined town center with cultural and cheese-related themes that extend beyond the main square. The church and a monument stand in Praça da Matriz. The Rota do Queijo Canastra includes the municipality, and the administrative headquarters of Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra are in São Roque de Minas. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth distinguishing between the town center and themes relating to the municipality or the park.

Church and monument in Praça da Matriz

Igreja Matriz de São Roque de Minas is located at Praça da Matriz, 10, in the town center. The Altar da Pátria, a monument erected in 1967, stands in the same square. The church and monument provide two specific cultural points of reference in the town center, both in one square. If you are interested in the town’s history, this combination offers a precise starting point without limiting your visit to a single building.

Semana Santa: 2026 program

The 2026 Semana Santa program included Masses and processions. On Palm Sunday, a procession through the town streets and the blessing of palm branches were scheduled. For Good Friday, the program included a celebration of the Passion of Christ and a procession with the dead Jesus. An Easter Mass at Igreja Matriz was scheduled for Easter Sunday. The events were thus spread across several days and brought together the church and processions in town. If you are planning a future trip around Semana Santa, check that year’s program; the details listed here refer to 2026.

Canastra cheese and the 2026 festival program

The fifth Festival do Queijo da Canastra was scheduled to take place from July 24 to 26, 2026, in Praça da Matriz. The planned program included two different formats: a product fair featuring Canastra cheese, coffee and regional products, as well as a Vila Rural with clay ovens and Quitandas. Regional products were thus presented alongside an area featuring clay ovens and Quitandas. Those dates have now passed. If you would like to include a future edition in your trip, check its current announcement.

Cheese route and activities in the national park

The Rota do Queijo Canastra includes the municipality of São Roque de Minas. It gives visitors the opportunity to discover traditional farms, observe artisanal cheese production and taste Canastra cheese. The route thus offers three different perspectives: the farm, the production process and the cheese itself. The administrative headquarters of Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra are in São Roque de Minas. The park’s 2026 visitor protocol initially provided for public access by 4x4 vehicle, bicycle and on foot. The options range from motorized trips to activities by bicycle or on foot.

When choosing your holiday rental, you can first decide whether you want your stay to focus on the town center or on activities related to the municipality or the park. Then check the location of the specific accommodation to make sure it suits that focus.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Cristiano Otoni, Governador Valadares, Antunes, São Joaquim de Bicas, Estrela Dalva, Santa Rita De Jacutinga, Viçosa, Estiva.

For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.