PAYSANDU

About Paysandu

The travelers from the missions, who sailed down the river Uruguay from "Yapeyu" to Buenos Aires, started talking about the "Paso del Sandu" or the "Ypauzando". They were referring perhaps to the island, known today as "Caridad". The owners of these lands were the "Charrua" Indians, the minuanes, and the wind cattle, and there was only a group of huts scattered around the harbor. We do not know when Paysandu was born. It grew gradually, with the help of man, the cattle and the river. The 8th of June of 1863, this village was declared a city.

This city saw the exodus, had Artigas immortal dream of village of "Purification", drank the white and red blood during the Guerra Grande, suffered under the dramatic siege, and went through its destruction at the end of the year 1864.

After those sad years Paysandu, develops into a city with an intense agricultural industry, and an important port.

Paysandu has an area of 14.106 km2 and a population of about 110.100 inhabitants in 1996. Its capital is a modern city, with an important commercial center, and cultural activities. Paysandu has some wonderful architectonic gems, which date back to the 19 century.

These are some important landmarks, the theatre, Florencio Sanchez, the basilic "Nuestra Se0241ora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo", by the architect Francisco Poncini and his brother Bernardo. In the cemetery "Monumento a la Perpetuidad" there are famous works of art, sculptures in marble and bronze.

The harbor divides the boulevard in two parts, north and south. Watching the sun set in the harbors a must, it is a breathtaking sight, there are lovely sandy beaches on the banks of the river, Playa Park, in the north, and playa Mayea, in the south, near the Club de Pescadores. The municipal park, upon the Sacra stream in one of the favorite spots for the locals they hold makes, festival sand fairs in that area.

Opposite the islands of Almiron and Almeria, is "saladero Casa Blanca" further north the visitor can find "Club de Remeros", and the Yacht Club, where lots of yachts are moored.

This club holds important competition, especially during the beer celebrations. Lots of tourists come here to celebrate this event and to elect the queen of the beer. The Jockey Club organizes important riding competitions and horses races.

Another important festival is held on the 8th of June. The city celebrates its anniversary with parades, sports and other cultural activities.

To the east of this city, we arrive at a village called "Piedras Coloradas". Large areas of forest cover this region. And from here the traveler can continue his journey to "Guichon" where lots of fossils have been found and even the remains of dinosaurs. Almiron is a small village with thermal baths; it includes three swimming pools with Jacuzzi, a parador, a camping site and a group of cottages to rent.

The salty waters have a temperature of 34 degrees centigrades.

The Guaviyu thermal baths are further north and the water there has a temperature of 39 degrees centigrade. They are rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and flour. There are eight swimming pools, a sauna, restaurants, motels, and a camping site.

Purificacion was the village founded by Artigas in 1815, in the place known as the "Meseta del Hervidero". There, Artigas claimed himself to be the Protector of the Free People. In 1899, a column made of granite was erected in the memory of Artigas, and the Italian sculptor Azzarini did it. In the year 1915, Jose Enrique Rodo, went on a pilgrimage to the site and said "there is no other place in Uruguay as sacred as this solitary hill".

By the end of the 19th century, the "saladeros" of "Casa Blanca", "Nuevo Paysandu", "Guaviju", "San Francisco", "Mc Coll", elaborated meat products of a very high quality, offering work to many Argentineans, Brazilians and Uruguayans. An important group of Italian immigrants offered their knowledge and experience in the agricultural and technological fields. Wool, hide, beetroots, and citrus, helped to the development of the city, not to mention the oil industry, the alcohol and cement and others. This several companies carry on with this industrial tradition: Paylana, Paycueros, Cerveceria Paysandu -Nortena-, Azucarlito, Azucitrus, and Forbel. Destileria de Alcoholes y Cementera Ancap.

Basically, this territory has a basalt valley in the east and sedimentary plains in the west. The 45% of the soil in this area is exposed to summer droughts and should be used for pastures. The 33% of the land is good for breeding cattle. Lastly 20.7% of the territory has deep soils, of high fertility. They are the agricultural lands of the area, where cereals, and beetroots are cultivated. They are good for farming and for pastures and the production of dairy products.

Some of the state owners have discovered that the rural way of life is an attraction to some of the tourist who arrives in Uruguay. Most of them are "Home Stay" where the visitors participates in the activities of the estate, eating barbecue, playing the guitar, and enjoying indoors games or just reading a good book.

The banks of the rivers and streams are covered with thick vegetation. Red and black "sarandies", "ingas", weeping willows. "mataojos" and ceibo are some of the trees found in this region.

Paysandu is situated in a special area, it has a wonderful climate and it is rich in natural resources.

It is in contact with all our country and with other Latin American countries through its net of communications.

It has witnessed important historic events, and today, its industries are giving great profits to Uruguay.