Paravachasca

Sub-Divisions: Calamuchita | Mar Chiquita | The North-West | The North | Paravachasca | Punilla | Sierras Chicas | Sierras del Sur |Traslasierra

A landscape with colours and aromas from the mountains and valley…
Splendid testimonies of colonial Córdoba…
A human scale for the activities…

Flanked by the Sierras Grandes in the west and the Sierras Chicas in the east is the Valle de Paravachasca, crossed by the river Anizacate. Another group of rivers and streams come together into the Embalse Los Molinos, generating an attractive place for recreation and water sports. The magnificent Quebrada del Condorito, a deep ravine in the east ridge of the Pampa de Achala and the heart of the national park with the same name, is an attraction of great importance for ecotourism for being one of the few habitats for the cóndor, other than the Andes.
However, Paravachasca means going deeply into Córdoba’s historic roots. The city of Alta Gracia, the area’s heart, holds one of the highlights of colonial times: the Jesuit Ranch from which the city originated.

Another feature of this area is the human scale of its proposal, represented in the villages along the river Anizacate and other areas, as well. La Bolsa, La Serranita, La Paisanita, Ciudad de América, and San Clemente with the changing colours of the different landscapes and seasons are the synthesis of the offer of infrastructure, services and activities that identify Paravachasca.&texto_info=Flanked by the Sierras Grandes in the west and the Sierras Chicas in the east is the Valle de Paravachasca, crossed by the river Anizacate. Another group of rivers and streams come together into the Embalse Los Molinos, generating an attractive place for recreation and water sports.

&s01=Alta Gracia Jesuit Complex: The UNESCO has declared it part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The PARISH CHURCH NUESTRA SRA. DE LA MERCED (1743-1762) has its main altar laminated in gold and oil based paint coloured with vegetable over plaster and very old woodcarvings. EL OBRAJE (1643): when the Church was built, the rooms and workshops, as well as the Jesuits’ offices were located at this site. NATIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM “CASA DEL VIRREY LINIERS”: The main building is attached to the church. It housed the cloisters where the Jesuits lived. In 1810, the Río de la Plata Viceroy, Don Santiago de Liniers, lived here.

Manuel de Falla Museum: The chalet called “Los Espinillos” was the last residence of the Spanish musician Manuel de Falla. He lived here since 1942 until the year of his death, in 1946. The personal belongings of the distinguished composer, as well as the manuscripts and scores of his work are kept in this house.

Bosque Alegre Observatory: This astrophysics station is located at 1,290 metres over the sea level. It has a reflective telescope with a 1.45-metre diameter. It is the third in importance among similar ones in the American Continent and the fifth in the world.

Bosque Alegre Ground Station: It is the second satellite communications station built in the country. It has a 32-metre diameter antenna. There is also an amphitheatre to show audiovisual presentations on topics related to communications.

Los Molinos Dam: (1948—1953) Surface area: 2,451 hectares. Volume: 399 Hm3. Maximum dam elevation: 57 mts. The lake shores are wound by provincial road N° 5 allowing the visitor to enjoy beautiful views.

Villa General Belgrano: Mountain town with a reminiscence of the Tyrol region. Los Reartes, a nearby town, has a river with natural swimming areas and a chapel from the year 1818. A 42 Km. drive leads the visitor to La Cumbrecita, a mountain village that offers a variety of tourist services.

Cerro Champaqui: It is the highest peak (2790 metres) of the Córdoba mountain range system. The summit can be reached without much technical difficulties from the nearby village called Villa Alpina.

Santa Rosa de Calamuchita: It is an important tourist village crossed by the Santa Rosa river. It has a very old history since it was founded in the year 1575. It has a chapel that was built around the year 1785.

Piedras Moras Dam: This water reservoir is 32 metres deep and covers 830 hectares. It offers many opportunities for recreational activities and water sports.

Río Tercero Water Reservoir: (1927–1936) It is the biggest artificial water reservoir of the province. It covers a surface area of 5,426 hectares, has a volume of 735 Hm3, and a maximum dam elevation of 50 metres. Nautical clubs and camping grounds enhance the beauty of this attractive reservoir.

Complejo Río Grande: It has an upstream reservoir called Cerro Pelado Dam and a reservoir located 12 Km. downstream called Arroyo Corto Dam that works as equalizing reservoir. Both reservoirs are linked by an approximately 6 Km. long tunnel used to recover water.

Nuclear Power Station: It is the second nuclear power station of the country. Its construction began in the year 1974. It has been operating commercially since January 1984.

Río de los Sauces: Old mountain village. It has a church dating from the XIX century with unique construction features.

Alpa Corral: Summer village resort by Las Barrancas river. It has an old bridge from the beginning of the XX century that used to be in the Sarmiento Park in the city of Córdoba.

Achiras: It is the most important tourist centre of the southern region of the range. It is a picturesque area with brooks and dense groves. The church is over 200 years old and it bears an image of Our Lady of Mercy.