Villa De Reyes: Churches, Haciendas and History
Accommodation in Villa De Reyes
Villa de Reyes brings together religious buildings and a garden on the main square with historic haciendas and water attractions throughout the municipality. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, these different highlights can help you decide what interests you during your stay: the town center offers its own cultural points of interest, while other historic sites and balnearios are located throughout the municipality.
Churches and a Garden in Town
The Parroquia del Valle de San Francisco is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. It is considered an important symbol of local faith and a tourist attraction. The Santuario de Guadalupe also figures prominently in the town’s religious history: construction of its dome was completed in 1886.
The garden on the main square, with its iron benches, invites you to enjoy the town’s peaceful atmosphere. Together, the church, sanctuary and garden offer a glimpse of how religious significance and a public square shape local life. The chapel of Hacienda de Pardo is also nearby. It preserves original 16th-century bells and was completed in 1722. San Salvador de Burgos, a depiction of Christ brought directly from Spain by the founder, Don MatĂas Pardo, is venerated there.
Haciendas, Architecture and Film History
The haciendas in the municipality of Villa de Reyes reflect a range of historical and architectural themes. The Ex-Hacienda de Bledos is a historic site on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro; it was situated along the route toward Guadalajara. Its architecture and history make it a tourist and cultural attraction in the municipality. It has served as a filming location for productions, including the more recent adaptation of “Pedro Páramo.”
The Ex Hacienda de Carranco dates back to around 1600 and preserves much of its original colonial architecture. Its architectural features include a chapel designed by Felipe Cleere. Carranco was also a filming location for the movie “Un dulce olor a muerte.”
Several historical connections come together at Ex Hacienda Gogorrón: its history is linked to one of the first Spanish settlements in the state, as well as to the country’s first ejido, established in 1915. Since 1976, the hacienda has served as a filming location for more than twelve productions. It also preserves the industrial heritage of a textile and hydroelectric plant that used the area’s thermal water and hydraulic architecture.
Hacienda CalderĂłn also brings together architectural and technological history. Its aqueduct has a height difference of twelve meters and, together with Presa de Santa Ana, powered a hydroelectric plant. The main courtyard preserves a cantera stone well and a wheat mill. The chapel at CalderĂłn houses two archangel sculptures, each carved from a single piece of wood with an axe. Presa de Santa Ana, which is part of the complex, is described as a tourist attraction and a place for sport fishing.
Water Attractions in the Municipality
The balnearios offer a range of different features. Balneario Ex Hacienda de Calderón has water areas for different age groups, two slides and large swimming pools that operate on weekends. Extensive green spaces, gardens and a large wooded area characterize the grounds. Balneario El Centenario has three large swimming pools and warm Roman tubs, as well as children’s play areas and extensive camping areas.
Centro Vacacional Gogorrón has five thermal-water pools at 42 °C, three slides and two water tubes. It also has soccer, basketball and volleyball courts, along with a dedicated children’s water park with tube play equipment. It’s a good idea to check the temperature and operating conditions again before your trip. Balneario San Diego, in the municipality of San Miguel, offers thermal-water pools, saunas, massages, and health and beauty treatments. The facilities described at Parque Acuático Woow include water slides, swimming pools and relaxation areas.
The surroundings of these water attractions offer a variety of experiences, too: CalderĂłn combines pools with wooded green spaces; El Centenario complements its pools with warm Roman tubs, while GogorrĂłn combines thermal water and slides. When planning a visit to Balneario Ex Hacienda de CalderĂłn, bear in mind that its large swimming pools operate on weekends, and check the current conditions before you go.
The Ruta de las Haciendas
On February 20, 2025, the SecretarĂa de Turismo of San Luis PotosĂ and the Ayuntamiento de Villa de Reyes presented the first section of the Ruta de las Haciendas. The route begins in the municipality of Villa de Reyes and aims to highlight the historical and cultural value of the haciendas. If you’d like to plan your trip around it, confirm in advance whether the route is currently available.
Discover more destinations: Xilitla, Tierra Nueva, TanchachĂn, Cedral, San Luis PotosĂ, Soledad De Graciano Sánchez, Ranchito, Tamazunchale.
Go to the main travel overview: San Luis PotosĂ.
