Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Luján's Neo-Gothic
cathedral, and the
famous relic it
protects, is easily the
town's biggest draw.
Starting out as a
small chapel, it was
built up between
1887 and 1932, and
has ethereal stone
details and a circular
stained-glass win-
dow depicting the
Virgin Mary. Around
this window are
statues of the 12
apostles and the four
evan gelists. The
cathedral can be
entered through one
of the three huge
bronze doors; the
terracotta statue of
the Virgin Mary is
stored behind the
altar in the Camarín
de la Vírgen.
Mitre (see p54). The collection
exhibits items related to the
area's history, including a range
of colonial silverware. The
Gaucho Museum has exhibits
illuminating the history of the
gaucho, while the Transport
Museum displays the country's
first steam locomotive and the
first Argentinian hydroplane to
cross the Atlantic. The pavilion
nearby has a collection of docu-
ments and mementos relating
to Argentina's presidents.
Estancia Los Talas
12 miles (20 km) E of Luján. Te l (0230)
449-3902. &  lostalas.com
More than just another
attractive ranch, Los Talas is part
of Argentinian history. Built in
1824, it was confiscated by
General Manuel de Rosas (see
p111) in 1840 and returned to
the original owners 12 years
later, after Rosas's defeat at the
Battle of Caseros. Rosas didn't
stay at the ranch, but billeted
some of his troops there and let
his horses graze on the pastures.
Now a hotel, the sprawling
estancia still retains furnishings
and uniforms that date from this
volatile epoch. Most extra-
ordinary is its library, one of
the most important
in the country,
comprising over
40,000 volumes.
It includes
hand-written
books from the
13th century, a
number of editions
printed before 1800, and
priceless archives of the works
of some of Argentina's most
famous influential thinkers.
The stunning Basílica Nuestra Señora de Luján
2 Luján
Road map C3. 45 miles (70 km) W of
Buenos Aires. * 110,000. £ @
 lujan.gov.ar
E Complejo Museográfico
Enrique Udaondo
Lezica 917. Te l (02323) 420-245. Open
12:.30-4:30pm Wed, 11:30am-4:30pm
Thu & Fri, 10:30am-5:30pm Sat & Sun.
& 8 noon-6pm Wed-Fri. -
There are four
museums housed
within this com-
plex, which is
made up of the
former cabildo
(town hall) and
Casa del Virrey
(Viceroy's Residence).
The principal
collection is at the cabildo ,
which was once a prison;
famous past inmates here
include General Bartolomé
Known as La Capital de la Fe
(The Capital of the Faith), Luján
owes its existence to a “miracle.”
In 1630 a terracotta statuette of
the Virgin Mary was being
transported from Brazil to Peru
by ox cart. At the spot where
Luján's cathedral now stands, the
cart got stuck. Taken as a divine
hint that the statue was destined
to travel no farther, a chapel was
built to house the relic.
Today, Luján attracts some six
million pilgrims a year; thousands
make the trip from Buenos Aires
on foot. There are also excellent
restaurants and cafés around
the town's central square.
Velocipedo display,
Transport Museum
R Basílica Nuestra Señora
de Luján
San Martín 51. Te l (02323) 420-058.
Open 7am-8pm daily. 8 10am-5pm
Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun. 7
5 8am, 10am, 11am, 3pm, 5pm, &
7pm Mon-Sat, hourly 8-11am,
12:30pm, 3:30pm, 5pm, & 7pm Sun.
 basilicadelujan.org.ar
With its 350-ft- (106-m-) high
twin spires towering majes-
tically over the Pampas,
The lush environs of Complejo Museográico Enrique Udaondo
For hotels and restaurants see pp278-83 and pp288-99
 
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