Centro Cívico
Centro Cívico, San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, R8400
With its tufa-brick façade, slate roof, and wooden balconies, the Bariloche Civic Center (Centro Cívico) pays homage to the town’s German and Swiss heritage. Dominating the central square, the complex is classified as a National Historic Monument and offers great views of Nahuel Huapi Lake.
The Basics
Bariloche Civic Center comprises a number of buildings around a central plaza, including the Town Hall, Tourist Information Center, the Central Police Station, a library, and the Museum of Patagonia. Walking tours of Bariloche almost always start at the Civic Center and cover other top Bariloche attractions such as Plaza de las Banderas. Most of Bariloche’s shops, restaurants, and chocolatiers are within easy walking distance of the Civic Center.
Things to Know Before You Go
The city’s mascots—barrel-toting Saint Bernards—can often be found outside the Civic Center; posing for a photo with the dogs is a popular pastime for visitors.
Staff at the Tourist Information Center speak multiple languages including English. Maps, tour information, and ferry tickets are available to purchase at the center.
There’s a huge range of shops, restaurants, and cafés on and around the square.
The Civic Center is accessible for travelers in wheelchairs and with strollers.
How to Get There
The Civic Center is located in the heart of downtown Bariloche and faces onto the lake. The center is easily reached on foot from central hotels and attractions, while the majority of Bariloche buses terminate at the bus station, which is a 5-minute taxi ride away.
When to Get There
The Civic Center is a lively part of the city at any time of day or night, but opening times vary for the different buildings. The Tourist Information Office is open daily from 8am to 9pm during high season, while the Museum of Patagonia is open daily except Mondays and closes for an hour over lunch. It’s worth visiting the area in the evening hours too, when crowds gather on the plaza to watch sunset over the lake.
Museum of Patagonia
At the north end of the plaza, the Museum of Patagonia (Museo de La Patagonia) brings together ethno-historical and natural displays. Highlights include exhibits on the indigenous communities of the Lakelands including the Mapuche, Tehuelche and Fuegian people; a taxidermy collection that features rare and endemic animals from the Patagonia region; and an exhibition on the development of Bariloche.
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