Bariloche

Lore & Background

The name Bariloche comes from the Mapudungun word Vuriloche, meaning 'people from behind the mountain.' The Poya people used the Vuriloche pass to cross the Andes, keeping it secret from Spanish priests for a long time. Evidence shows indigenous settlements on the banks of Lake Nahuel Huapi thousands of years before European expeditions of the 16th century. By the 19th century's end, only scattered indigenous families remained near the lake, and the area began to develop linked to Chile, with settlers from Chiloé and German immigrants from Chile arriving.

Spanish explorations began in the 17th century, with the first Spanish expedition to reach the lake generally attributed to Jesuit missionary Nicolás Mascardi in 1670. Jesuit missionaries established missions in the area, though a mission founded in 1703 was destroyed in 1717 by the Poya after a disagreement. The Crown suppressed the Society of Jesus in 1767, ending mission efforts.

In the 19th century, the area had stronger connections to Chile than to Buenos Aires. The 1881 border treaty recognized Nahuel Huapi as part of Argentina. German-Chilean Carlos Wiederhold crossed the Andes in 1894–1895 and established a shop called La Alemana in 1895, from which the modern settlement developed. By 1900, Chilean merchants dominated trade through nearby mountain passes.

Reader's Guide

Bariloche's significance lies in its role as the largest city in the Patagonian Andes and a key hub for tourism in Argentina. It is the country's third most visited destination, attracting visitors year-round for its scenic natural setting, including Nahuel Huapi National Park and Cerro Catedral, the largest ski resort in South America. The city is a traditional destination for student graduation trips and Quinceañera celebrations. In 2012, the Argentine Congress declared it the 'National Capital of Adventure Tourism.' Beyond tourism, scientific activities are growing, with the Bariloche Atomic Centre of the National Atomic Energy Commission and several public universities located there. The city's history reflects a blend of indigenous heritage, Spanish missionary efforts, and later settlement by German-Chilean entrepreneurs, shaping its unique cultural and economic character.

Did You Know?

• The name Bariloche comes from the Mapudungun word Vuriloche, meaning 'people from behind the mountain.'
• Cerro Catedral, near Bariloche, is the largest ski resort in South America.
• The modern settlement of Bariloche began in 1895 with a shop called La Alemana, established by German-Chilean Carlos Wiederhold.
• In 2012, the Argentine Congress declared Bariloche the 'National Capital of Adventure Tourism.'