Cuernavaca

Cuernavaca on the map of Morelos

Cuernavaca ( Nahuatl: Cuauhnáhuac, " in the trees " ) is the capital of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It has 341,700 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2004). The city is also called the " City of Eternal Spring " by Alexander von Humboldt. The reason is the warm and mild climate (average temperature 23 ° C ), due to the location (about 1,500 meters above sea level) in the Mexican highlands, including the north by mountain ranges with more than 3,000 meters above sea level ( forested with oak, pine and fir ), to the east of the foothills of the Tepozteco with about 2,000 meters above sea level, south of the mountains to Taxco in the Mexican state of Guerrero and to the west of the dry forests above the valleys of Chalma in the State of México. The city itself has a height difference of more than 400 m. and is in the center and in the north a typical mountain town with streets that follow the " Barrancas " ( in the rainy season filled with white water canyons). Few bridges connect the various parts of the city. These gorges themselves are one of the tourist attractions, especially those that perform water throughout the year, while waterfalls in the outskirts of the city of more than 30 m in height produce (eg El Salto de San Anton ).

From Mexico City, around 85 kilometers to the south to Cuernavaca. It run air-conditioned buses in almost hourly clock and from the airport. In the city operate yourself " Rutas ", small buses on fixed routes.

Cuernavaca is a popular weekend home today. Many Mexicans there because of the climate their second home and we find beautiful villas and haciendas with large gardens, often surrounded by high walls. Some of these houses are now hotels, restaurants or bars. The most famous is the restaurant Las Mañanitas. Hernán Cortés and Emperor Maximilian and his wife Charlotte spent in Cuernavaca the summer months. Even with Americans and Germans, the place is popular to spend the winter months.

Notable international facilities include, among others, Our Cabaña, near Cuernavaca, one of the four World Centres of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts ( Girl Scouts center ). In addition, many language schools in Cuernavaca resident for Spanish.

The novel Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry takes place in a fictional central Mexican town called " Quauhnáhuac ". This is the ancient name of Cuernavaca in Nahuatl, means " place among the trees ."

History

When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the country in 1519, Cuernavaca was standing at the side of the Aztecs. Only when Hernán Cortés conquered the city in 1521 by the Lake Texcoco during his campaign, they changed sides and fought for the rest of the war, together with the Spaniards against the Aztecs.

Economy

In Cuernavaca, the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan since 1966 operates his Civac factory and producing currently the Versa for the United States of America, the Nissan Tiida for Mexico and Central America. The notchback sedan Nissan Tsuru is there made ​​for the Mexican market. It employs around 3,500 workers at the plant Civac.

Culture and sights

In Cuernavaca, there are some points of interest:

  • The Palacio Cortés, the 1535 completed residence of Hernán Cortés, now a museum on the history of Morelos with murals by Diego Rivera
  • The archaeological site Teopanzolco, built by the Mexica, where one of the largest pyramids located, a copy of the Templo Mayor ( Great Temple ) in Tenochtitlan;
  • The Jardin Borda, a botanical garden, where the first mango trees were planted, with a mansion, in the once Emperor Maximilian gave large receptions, and where Porfirio Díaz and Diego Rivera lived. Today it is a cultural center;
  • The Cathedral Catedral de la Asunción de María, one of the oldest churches in Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Ocotepec in the north of Cuernavaca. Especially at the "Dia de los muertos " Day of the Dead on November 1 it to enjoy the festively decorated gifts tables in the homes of residents.
  • The waterfall of San Antón

Art lovers will also get their money. Among other things, there are:

  • The Museum Casa Robert Brady, the Art Gallery of the late art collector Robert Brady, which includes 1300 works from all over the world by Rufino Tamayo, Frida Kahlo, Miguel Covarrubias, Maurice Prendergast, Marsden Hartley and Graham Sutherland
  • Taller de Alfaro Siqueiros

Culture

From 1966 to 1976 was in Cuernavaca Centro Inter Cultural de Documentación ( CIDOC ), founded by Ivan Illich.

Crafts

In Cuernavaca many ceramic goods are produced, especially in the district of Colonia 3 de Mayo, where a deal lined up next to the other. In the city center there are next to the Palacio de Cortés a craft market, is sold on the souvenirs such as pottery, clothing and bags and jewelry.

Twin Cities

Air table

Ranked list of Mexican states Highland (landform) Carlota of Mexico Laredo (Texas)
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