Betim Between Cultural Heritage and Nature

Several themes come together when planning a trip to Betim: architectural and cultural history, traditional craft techniques, and nature and outdoor activities. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay in Betim, you can start by considering which focus you’d like to shape your trip. The sites offer different highlights—from the city’s oldest building and the history of leprosy treatment to natural areas with opportunities for walking and cycling.

Architecture, Crafts and Remembrance

Casa da Cultura Josephina Bento is considered the oldest building in the city of Betim. It has been officially recognized and protected by the city government since 1997. As a result, this site is both the city’s oldest building and a municipally protected landmark. If you’d like to begin with architectural and urban history, Casa offers a specific starting point for this focus.

Salão do Encontro focuses on a different form of cultural heritage: traditional knowledge and skills from the culture of Minas Gerais. These are preserved through workshops in carpentry, weaving, ceramics and basketry. The practices of Salão do Encontro have been listed as intangible cultural heritage of Betim since 2017. The two cultural points of interest therefore differ: Casa is a historic building, while Salão is about traditional craft practices.

The years refer to different events: 1997 marks Casa’s recognition and protection by the city government, while 2017 marks the listing of Salão’s practices as intangible cultural heritage. Both a protected building and traditional skills are therefore relevant to understanding local cultural heritage.

Centro de Memória da Hanseníase Luiz Verganin adds another perspective: the history of leprosy treatment in Brazil. It preserves and presents this history, with a particular focus on Colônia Santa Isabel. The Centro’s opening hours are listed as Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. If you’re planning a visit, check the hours in advance.

Nature and Outdoor Activities in Betim

Parque Natural Municipal Felisberto Neves is a nature reserve in central Betim, covering approximately 290,000 m². Its diverse fauna and flora include species from the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. Ecological trails are available in the park, making it a place to enjoy both the natural environment and an outdoor activity.

Parque Paraopeba Vivo Nelson Flores offers a different kind of outdoor activity: it has a 600-meter route for walking and cycling. When planning your trip, you can compare the two: Paraopeba Vivo has a specified route length for walking and cycling, while ecological trails are available at Felisberto Neves. This lets you decide whether to include a specific route for walking or cycling, or the option of ecological trails, in your plans.

For a stay focused on culture, you can choose from different themes: a protected building, traditional craft techniques, and the history of leprosy treatment. Nature and outdoor activities also offer different options: the 600-meter route at Parque Paraopeba Vivo Nelson Flores and the ecological trails at Parque Natural Municipal Felisberto Neves.

Discover more destinations: Nanuque, Itabira, Itajubá, Pouso Alto, Fama, Varginha, Inhaúma, Carangola

For the main travel overview: Minas Gerais.