Colonia Dignidad, Former religious colony in Linares Province, Chile
Colonia Dignidad was a closed settlement with its own infrastructure on a site covering 137 square kilometers in Linares Province. The compound included agricultural operations, a school, a hospital, two airstrips, a restaurant, and an independent power station.
Paul Schäfer founded the settlement in 1961 after fleeing from Germany. During the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, the site was used as a secret torture center between 1973 and 1990.
The community lived completely cut off from the outside world and followed strict internal rules that controlled every aspect of daily life. Visitors can still see the physical remains of this isolation today, including watchtowers and fences along the perimeter.
The settlement was renamed Villa Baviera in 1991 and now operates as a tourist destination with German-themed accommodations and dining. Visitors can tour the grounds and learn about its past.
Around 100 political prisoners were killed here during collaboration between the leadership and Chilean military intelligence. The site also served as a hiding place for weapons and regime documents.
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