Discover São José da Barra

São José da Barra brings together a distinctive urban history with landscape and cultural attractions in the municipality. If you’re looking for a hotel in São José da Barra, distinguishing between the history of the new town and the municipality’s attractions can help you plan your trip: the banjo-shaped layout is part of the town’s history; Lago de Furnas, Vale dos Tucanos, and local festivals offer other experiences. This helps you decide whether local history, landscape, or culture should be the deciding factor for your trip.

Town history and the former settlement

The new town of São José da Barra was planned and built in the shape of a banjo at the request of the local parish priest, Padre Ubirajara Cabral. Its urban planning is therefore connected to a specific shape and a named individual. This is a striking point of reference in the town’s history.

The former village of São José da Barra, also called Pontal da Barra, is part of a different chapter. It was located at the confluence of the Rio Grande and Sapucaí rivers, 94 km from Passos, and belonged to the municipality of Alpinópolis. In the 1950s, residents made their living from fishing and farming.

Landscapes and activities in the municipality

Praia Municipal Ponta da Serra is located in the municipality on the shore of Lago de Furnas and provides access to the lake.

Vale dos Tucanos is surrounded by large rock faces; a narrow stretch of the Furnas reservoir leads to an impressive view of the valley. Mirante 360º offers a different perspective: from there, you can take in the Mar de Minas and the local fauna and flora. The two landscape attractions offer distinct experiences—rock faces and valley views on one hand, and the lake, wildlife, and plant life on the other.

XCO Furnas EcoBike adds a sporting focus. The public facility has a cycling course designed for the XCO discipline, with loops ranging from 6 to 20 km. This range gives you a specific point of reference to distinguish this activity from landscape and viewpoint attractions.

History and festivals

Another historical reference in the municipality is Cidade Submersa – Barra Velha. It was completely flooded when the Rio Grande and Sapucaí rivers were dammed to build the Usina Hidrelétrica de Furnas hydroelectric plant.

The municipality’s traditional and religious event calendar includes the São João festival. Another cultural attraction is in Bom Jesus dos Campos: the traditional Santos Reis festival, with a folklore gathering, is held annually on January 6 at the Capela de Santos Reis e São Sebastião. If you’d like to include this festival in your travel plans, January 6 is the date to keep in mind.

The crispy São José cookie is also highlighted by the municipality as a tourist attraction. It adds a culinary dimension to the area’s history, landscapes, and festival traditions.

Discover more destinations: Maria da Fé, Boa Esperança, Passa-Vinte, Santa Rita De Jacutinga, Oliveira, Minduri, Lagoa Santa, Estrela Dalva

For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.