Page 150 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

148  ARGENTINA REGION B Y REGION

Luján’s Neo-Gothic Mitre (see p56). The collection
cathedral, and the exhibits items related to the
famous relic it area’s history, including a range
protects, is easily the of colo nial silver ware. The
town’s biggest draw. Gaucho Museum has exhibits
Starting out as a illumi nating the history of the
small chapel, it was gaucho, while the Trans port
built up bet ween Museum displays the coun try’s
1887 and 1932, and first steam loco motive and the
has ethe real stone first Argentinian hydro plane to
details and a circular cross the Atlantic. The pavi lion
stained-glass win- nearby has a collection of docu-
dow depicting the ments and mementos relating
Virgin Mary. Around to Argentina’s presidents.
this window are
statues of the 12 Carlos Keen
apostles and the four 9 miles (14 km) NW of Luján. Carlos
evan gelists. The Keen access road from Km 72, Natl.
cathe dral can be Route 7. ∑ carloskeen.org
entered through one The small town of Carlos Keen
of the three huge sprang up after a railway station
bronze doors; the was built here in the 1870s
terra cotta statue of for grain transport. Following a
the Virgin Mary is curtailment of the rail system
stored behind the in the mid-1990s, the station
altar in the Camarín closed and the town’s population
The stunning Basílica Nuestra Señora de Luján de la Vírgen. dwindled from a peak of
5,000 people to around 400.
2 Luján E Complejo Museográfico The town has since
Enrique Udaondo undergone a revival as a
Road map C3. 45 miles (70 km) W of
Buenos Aires. * 110,000. £ @ Lezica 917. Tel (02323) 420-245. Open destination for food lovers
∑ lujan.gov.ar 12:30–4:30pm Wed, 11:30am–4:30pm in search of restaurants
Thu & Fri, 10:30am–5:30pm Sat & Sun. specialising in cocina del campo
Known as La Capital de la Fe & 8 noon–6pm Wed–Fri. - (authentic country cooking).
(The Capital of the Faith), Luján There are four On weekends, it transforms
owes its existence to a “miracle.” museums housed into an oasis of
In 1630 a terracotta statuette within this com- picadas (platters
of the Virgin Mary was being plex, which is of cheese and
transported from Brazil to Peru made up of the cured meats),
by ox cart. At the spot where former cabildo parrilladas
Luján’s cathe dral now stands, the (town hall) and (grilled meats
cart got stuck. Taken as a divine Casa del Virrey and sausages
hint that the statue was destined (Viceroy’s Residence). Velocipedo display, served on brazier),
to travel no farther, a chapel was The princi pal Transport Museum and rustic dishes from
built to house the relic. collection is at the cabildo, the countryside. Since most
Today, Luján attracts some six which was once a prison; restaurants in the town are
million pilgrims a year; thousands famous past inmates here only open on weekends and
make the trip from Buenos Aires include General Bartolomé holidays, call for reservations.
on foot. There are also excellent
restaurants and cafés around
the town’s central square.
R Basílica Nuestra Señora
de Luján
San Martín 51. Tel (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 Museográfico Enrique Udaondo
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p280 and pp291–2

148-149_EW_Argentina.indd 148 05/08/16 10:40 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm