Less than an hour from Buenos Aires there is a 19th century French castle, heir to the best French palaces but it is not in Paris. It is in General Pacheco, surrounded by gardens and you can visit each of its corners in these guided tours.
30 minutes away from Buenos Aires there is a castle with secret tunnels and French gardens that you can visit on guided tours.
The history of this French castle near Buenos Aires began in 1827, when General Angel Pacheco, a military man and farmer, bought thousands of hectares in what is now the Tigre district. After his death, his sons inherited the lands that gave birth to General Pacheco, Don Torcuato and El Talar.
Decades later, in 1882, José Felipe Pacheco Reynoso and Agustina de Anchorena built a French-style residence on the same land with materials brought directly from France and constructed a castle in the image and likeness of the French palaces of the time. And as if that were not enough, the gardens of General Pacheco Castle were designed by Carlos Thays, the designer of the Botanical Garden of Buenos Aires and many green spaces in the city.
A French castle with secret tunnels, sculptures and even a power plant.
The couple’s son, José Agustín Pacheco Anchorena, turned the place into an estancia that lacked nothing: he built a 20-block canal connecting the castle with the Reconquista River, an electric power plant, a lock for irrigation and even an iron bridge with a toll. He was also a sculptor and worked in a subway workshop that was accessed through a secret tunnel from the castle.
In 1981, the property was sold and transformed into the gated community of El Talar de Pacheco, but the original shell is still standing, preserving much of the history of the northern part of Greater Buenos Aires. The solarium and the castle, José Agustín’s old atelier, can still be seen around it.
How and when to visit the French castle, its subway workshop and its secret tunnel
The Historical Museum of General Pacheco organizes guided tours of the historic center, including a tour of the castle. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes, covers 2 km and is only for visitors over 13 years of age. There are no restrooms available during the guided tour and it is recommended to arrive 10 minutes early.
The guided tours are organized by the Historical Museum of General Pacheco. To know the dates of each month and sign up, you have to check the Museum’s Instagram profile at @museopacheco. There is a contribution voucher for the benefit of the Historical Museum.
📍210 Hipólito Yrigoyen Av. General Pacheco.