Fray Bernardino De Sahagún: Mural and Industrial History

Ciudad Sahagún has a variety of themes that can shape your stay: a mural connects the city’s original layout with an older history of water supply. There is also a cultural center, a municipal recreation center, and reminders of industrial history. A paper balloon festival is another historic event associated with the town. This gives you different ways to focus your trip: art and history, activities for the whole family, or the development of the industrial project. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can start by choosing the theme that matters most to you during your stay.

Mural, City Layout, and Aqueduct

One cultural and historical landmark is the mural “El Nacimiento de Ciudad Sahagún.” It is located at Fray Bernardino de Sahagún Elementary School in Ciudad Sahagún and was created in 1958. Its subject is Ciudad Sahagún as originally planned; it depicts the five original neighborhoods of Abecedario, Carros de Ferrocarril, Sidena, Dina, and IMSS. The depiction is not entirely exact, so it should be understood as an artistic representation of the plan, not as a completely accurate image of the city. The mural is in very good condition; a metal grille protects its lower section. Confirm its condition before your visit. Since the work is located in an elementary school, you should also check in advance whether the school interior is accessible.

The Franciscan aqueduct is also depicted in the mural. Between 1541 and 1545, it carried water from Alcantarillas to Tepeapulco. Thus, the same image places Ciudad Sahagún’s plan alongside an older water connection between the two places. The motif links the city planning depicted in the mural to an earlier history of water transport.

Cultural Center and Municipal Recreation Center

Centro Cultural Grupo Hidalgo offers courses, workshops, and activities for the whole family. If you’d like to include these offerings in your travel plans, check the current program and availability in advance. This lets you plan around the dates actually on offer.

Parque Recreativo Guadalupe is a municipal recreation center in Ciudad Sahagún. A 2017 report mentions green spaces, a pond, barbecue areas, huts, and children’s play areas. These features differ from the courses and workshops offered at the cultural center: the park focuses on green spaces, water, and play areas. Since the description of its facilities dates from 2017, confirm the current condition and access before visiting.

Industrial History and Paper Balloon Festival

The history of the Ciudad Sahagún industrial project offers another perspective on the town. DINA was the first company to establish itself in the Fray Bernardino de Sahagún industrial zone. The presence of railway and power lines was among the reasons the site was chosen for the industrial project. This highlights two distinct aspects: the first company to set up there and the site-selection decision at the time, in which both types of lines played a role.

One cultural event with a clearly defined date is the Sixth Hidalgo Paper Balloon Festival. In 2013, more than 1,500 paper figures filled the sky over Ciudad Sahagún. The IMSS soccer stadium served as the venue, and more than 10,000 people attended the spectacle. The figures give different perspectives on the same event: the number of paper figures in the sky and the size of the audience. The festival complements the themes of the mural and industrial history with a specific look back at a single event.

Discover more destinations: Nequetejé, Tlahuelilpan, Manuel, Tepeji De Ocampo, Tulancingo, Zapotlán De Juárez, Huejutla, Acatlán.

For the regional travel overview: Hidalgo.