The Andes - Welsh Settlements - Cultural and Historical

The great “16 October Valley”, where the Welsh settlements are located, is characteristic of the landscape of the Andes of Patagonia, with a background of blue snow-capped mountains, vast crop covered plains, native flora, and a typical breezy southern wind. The valley is beautiful during the summer but also in the other seasons. The autumn sees the mountainous slopes full of amazing colours, likewise in spring full of wild flowers. In winter, a blanket of snow allows for skiing and other Winter sports.
 
Here are some of the excursions of a cultural and historical nature that we include in out itineraries in the the Welsh regions of the Andes in Patagonia:

Trevelin

Welsh pioneers first arrived in Cwm Hyfryd in 1885 during an expedition to explore the whole of newly founded Territory of Chubut. The Rifleros, as the 30 horsemen were called, were guided by John Daniel Evans during their expedition. By 1888, the first colonisers arrived to settle on the banks of the Río Percy. By 1918, a company headed by J. D. Evans built a flourmill and the village of Trevelin flourished around it.
 
An interesting attraction is the historical museum, which is to be found in the old mill. Another historical museum is at the old Escuela 18 at Pentre Sydyn, which records the events of the 1902 plebiscite that helped to solve the territorial claims of Argentina and Chile over the region. Another museum, Cartref Taid, records the life of J. D. Evans and his faithful horse Malacara. A monument to Fontana in the town’s plaza is inscribed with the names of the Rifleros. Other attractions are Bethel chapel and the Welsh teahouses.

La Trochita Narrow Gauge Train - Esquel

One of the characteristics of the railway that the Trochita runs along is the narrowness of its gauge of only 75 centimetres (29.5 inches). This railway has changed little since 1922 and a there are a number of unique steam engines. There is a regular tourist service from Esquel to Nahuel Pan, some 200 metres (650 feet) higher up through a ravine where you will see magnificent views of the steppe, baked from the activity of ancient volcanoes, and of Nahuel Pan mountain (Mynydd Llwyd). The whole journey takes about 4 hours and runs throughout the year.
 
The author Paul Theroux, in his book ‘The Old Patagonian Express’, describes his journey form Boston, USA, to Esquel and his arrival on the Trochita.

Melin Nant Fach Mill, Cwm Hyfryd

This museum is on the ranch of the Evans family some 22 kilometres (14 miles) from Trevelin and 13 kilometres (8 miles) from the border with Chile. The museum was created by Mervyn Evans to record the history of the various flourmills that existed in the colony. The millstones, dating from the 1930's, are turned by a water wheel. It will be possible to see how the mill functions and see flour being ground while listening to the history of the Welsh colonisers and the family of Mervyn Evans.
 
In and adjacent room to the mill it is possible to see historical items associated with the Welsh colonisers including musical instruments, old agricultural machinery and original wagons.

Pentre Sydyn, Cwm Hyfryd

At a distance of 9 km stands the Escuela 18 historical museum, where on the 30 April, 1902 about 300 people, mostly Welsh and Mapuche, finally opted to put under Argentina's sovereignty the territories colonized since 1885. At a further 6 km lies the "Holdich Stone”, a memorial tribute to the visit of the British arbitrator that was sent to remedy the conflict.
 
In 1902 the area where the Welsh had settled came into dispute with Republic of Chile claiming sovereignty over the area. On 30 April of that year there was a general meeting at School No. 18 with Boundary Commission. Sir Thomas Holdich was the English arbitrator, and the representatives of both governments were Perito Francisco Pascasio Moreno from Argentina and Dr. Balmaceda from Chile. When the British arbitrator asked the inhabitants under which flag they wanted to live, the answer of the Welsh settlers was unanimous. That day Argentina gained definitively further 360,000 hectares to its territory

Esquel

Esquel is located in the northern end of Cwm Hyfryd about 25 kilometres (16 miles) from Trevelin. The first Welsh colonisers settled there before 1900. The first Welsh families were Jenkins, Freeman, Evans, Awstin a Roberts. Nowadays, Esquel is Chubut’s largest town in the Andes with a population approaching 40,000.
 
Amongst the town’s attractions are Seion chapel and its vestry that today is used as a private Welsh school and community centre.