Caeté: Cultural Heritage, Serra da Piedade and the Rota do Ferro

Caeté appeals to travelers who want to include protected cultural heritage, landscape history or regional craft traditions in their travel plans. In Sede, a church and the historic town center are protected; in the municipality of Caeté, the ensemble of the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Piedade is designated as being of particular tourist importance. The Museu Regional de Caeté offers educational programs and focuses on traditional crafts, while the Rota do Ferro describes a longer, non-motorized route through several municipalities.

Cultural Heritage in Sede

The Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso is located in Sede, Caeté, and has been listed as federally protected cultural heritage since June 13, 1938. The listing has process number 67-T-38 and entry number 115 in the Livro Belas Artes. The historic town center of Caeté in Sede is also protected, under Municipal Decree No. 202 of November 17, 2011. The two entries identify different forms of protection: federal listing for the church and municipal protection for the historic town center.

The Santuário and Serra da Piedade

In the municipality of Caeté, the landscape, artistic and cultural ensemble of the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Piedade was designated as a tourist attraction of particular importance in Minas Gerais by a state decree in 2012. The Serra da Piedade is closely linked to the history of the Bandeirantes and the settlement of the territory of Minas Gerais associated with them; at the same time, it is one of the region’s most significant landscape landmarks. The two aspects can be distinguished by theme: the Santuário’s designation as an attraction of particular tourist importance is central to the former, while the latter highlights historical and landscape connections.

The Rota do Ferro

A municipal tourism description dated July 12, 2021, calls the Rota do Ferro an approximately 80-kilometer route. It begins in Sabará, passes through Caeté and Barão de Cocais, and ends in Santa Bárbara. Along the way are ruins, including abandoned railway stations, parts of former structures and small tunnels. The description designates the route exclusively for cycling, horseback riding, walking or trail running, and other non-motorized sports. It follows the course of the former, now-disused Ramal Nova Era (EFSSB). In this respect, the Rota do Ferro covers a wider area than the cultural heritage listings relating to Sede: its route passes through several municipalities. Check the condition of the route and its infrastructure before traveling.

Education and Craftsmanship at the Museum

The Museu Regional de Caeté develops educational programs to meet the needs of the municipality of Caeté and the region, with particular attention to students in the city and region. It preserves the cultural heritage, knowledge and craft traditions of the people of Caeté and its districts. Its activities include courses and workshops on traditional craft techniques from the region. In understanding the destination, this focus complements its architectural and landscape heritage with education, inherited knowledge and practical craft techniques.

Discover more destinations: José Raydan, São José da Barra, Guaxupé, Itacarambi, Ouro Branco, Bocaina De Minas, Nova Lima, Munhoz.

For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.