Querétaro, State in central Mexico.
Description
Querétaro is a state in central Mexico that covers more than 11,000 square kilometers, extending from the highlands of the Sierra Madre Oriental to the fertile lowlands in the south. The landscape shifts between mountain ranges in the north and wide valleys with moderate climate, where agricultural fields sit alongside industrial zones and small towns.
History
Spanish forces arrived in 1531 and defeated the indigenous Otomi and Chichimec peoples who lived throughout the territory. Decades later, the region became a key staging point for conflicts during the independence wars and the civil wars of the 19th century.
Culture
Colonial mission churches built by Franciscan monks during the 16th and 17th centuries still serve as gathering points for local communities during festivals and ceremonies. Traditional celebrations include religious processions, regional dances, and open-air markets where families from nearby towns sell handmade crafts and continue customs passed down through generations.
Practical
The capital, Santiago de Querétaro, lies centrally and provides access to nearby towns such as San Juan del Río and to the mountain areas of the Sierra Gorda. Rental cars or bus connections are helpful for moving around, since public transport options decrease in rural zones.
Did you know?
The Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve holds several microclimates within a small area, from semi-desert scrubland to cloud forests and canyons with tropical vegetation. Hikers can walk through different climate zones in a single day and observe plant species that normally grow hundreds of kilometers apart.
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Peña de Bernal
49.6 km
Atlantean figures at Tula
124.4 km
Cave of Swallows
175 km
Tulasas
124.3 km
Cerro de las Campanas
2 km
Sierra Gorda
121.5 km
El Cerrito
7 km
Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda
118.1 km
Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve
111.8 km
Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
2.7 km
Zimapán Dam
93.1 km
College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro
831 m
Cerro de las Campanas
2 km
El Cimatario National Park
7.4 km
Casa de la Corregidora
283 m
Fuente de Neptuno
314 m
Emperor Maximilian Memorial Chapel
2 km
Zona Arqueológica de Tula
124.9 km
St. Philip Neri Cathedral, Querétaro
589 m
Saint Rose of Viterbo Church and Convent
667 m
Los Mármoles National Park
120.5 km
St. Joseph Cathedral, Tula de Allende
124.6 km
Church of San Miguel Arcángel
122.8 km
Parque Joya La Barreta
28.2 km
Auditorio Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez
1.5 km
Santa María de la Asunción
52.6 km
Basilica de Soriano
41 km
EcoCentro Expositor Querétaro
6.6 km
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