Puerto Varas, German colonial settlement on Lake Llanquihue, Chile
Puerto Varas sits 56 meters above sea level on the shore of Lake Llanquihue and looks toward the snow-covered peaks of Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. The lake spreads across a wide surface and forms the foreground for the mountain range, clearly visible when the weather is clear.
The Chilean government founded the Llanquihue Lake colonization territory in 1853 and brought 212 German families to the area that same year. The settlement grew over the following decades and developed into a town with German building styles and traditions.
The lakefront church has carried two tall wooden towers since the early 20th century and shapes the view from the water. Bakeries across town follow German recipes for fruit cakes and serve them in cafés throughout the day.
El Tepual International Airport sits 25 kilometers (15 miles) south in Puerto Montt and offers regular connections from Santiago and other Chilean cities. The town is easy to explore on foot, and many accommodations are located near the lakeshore.
Many houses in the center still carry the original wood cladding and follow the building plans that German settlers brought with them. Some of these buildings show old craft techniques that are rarely seen in Europe today.
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