Pátzcuaro, Mexico
Pátzcuaro is a town of 55,298 people in Michoacán, Mexico, founded in 1540.
Why visit Pátzcuaro
Townapedia lists 21 museums and landmarks, 19 parks and trails, 34 places to eat, 20 places to stay and 14 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Angamuco and Ihuatzio.
Weather in Pátzcuaro
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro (Spanish: [ˈpatskwaɾo] ) is a city and municipality located in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The town was founded sometime in the 1320s, at first becoming the capital of the Purépecha Empire and later its ceremonial center. After the Spanish took over, Vasco de Quiroga worked to make Pátzcuaro the capital of the New Spain province of Michoacán, but after his death, the capital would be moved to nearby Valladolid (today Morelia). Pátzcuaro has retained its colonial and indigenous character since then, and it has been named one of the 111 "Pueblos Mágicos" by the government of Mexico.
From the Wikipedia article Pátzcuaro (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Pátzcuaro on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do14
2 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks21
Angamuco
Monument and historic site · 14.4 km
Historic site in Mexico
Ihuatzio
Monument and historic site · 7.3 km
Archaeological site in Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán, Mexico
Tzintzuntzan
Monument and historic site · 12.8 km
Archaeological site on the edge of Lake Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico
Monumento José María Morelos Pavón
Monument and historic site · 8.1 km
9 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds19
7 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes34
Distribuidora modelo de patzcuaro
Brewery and winery · 0.9 km
90 Libramiento General I. Zaragoza
Mo-Sa 09:00-19:00
Cafetería Copper Coffee
Cafe · 12.4 km
Café Gourmet
Quiroga - Tepalcatepec, Santa Clara del Cobre
Camino Real
Restaurant · Mexican · 3.9 km
Morelia - Pátzcuaro / Quiroga - Tepalcatepec
Plaza Real
Restaurant · 12.4 km
Lonchería y Cafetería
Calle Francisco I. Madero, Santa Clara del Cobre
22 more on the map.
History
The earliest written document about the founding of Pátzcuaro comes as a recording of its foundation narrative in the Relación de Michoacán written in 1539-1541, during the era of Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza. It states that two chiefs by the names of Páracume and Vápeani arrived in the area, then called Tarimichundiro, with their tribe, the Chichimecas. Here they began to build their temples, called "cues" by placing four large rocks close together. No date is given for this event, but since the deaths of the two original chiefs occurred in 1360, it is widely supposed that the founding occurred around 1324.
Around this time, three indigenous groups lived around Lake Pátzcuaro, who continuously fought each other. One group was called the "Coringuaro," another group the "Isleños" and the third the Chichimecas in Pátzcuaro. The Purépecha Empire began with Tariácuri, the first chief of the area assumed the title of "caltzontzin," or emperor, by conquering his neighbors. Pátzcuaro was the first capital of the Purépecha. The new kingdom was divided into three principalities called Ihuatzio, Tzintzuntzan and Pátzcuaro. Later, power shifted to the Tzintzuntzan principality, becoming the new capital, leaving Pátzcuaro as the ceremonial center, and a retreat for the nobility.
From the History section of Pátzcuaro on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay20
Hotel Mansión Bugambllias
Motel and hotel · 3.6 km
Carretera a Morelia km 2, Pátzcuaro
Hotel Mision Patzcuaro Centro Historico
Motel and hotel
10 Álvaro Obregón, Pátzcuaro
Posada de Don Vasco
Motel and hotel · 2.1 km
450 Avenida Lázaro Cárdenas, Pátzcuaro
Churches and places of worship24
Shopping15
Artesanías Ruiz Hnos.
Shop · 12.3 km
Quiroga - Tepalcatepec, Santa Clara del Cobre
Casa Cobre Treviño Torres
Shop · 12.3 km
Quiroga - Tepalcatepec, Santa Clara del Cobre
Taller Artesanías Ruiz
Shop · 12.3 km
226 Quiroga - Tepalcatepec, Santa Clara del Cobre
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries67
Instituto de Ecología, A.C. - Centro Regional del Bajío
School · 1.5 km
253 Av. Lázaro Cárdrnas, Pátzcuaro
Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnológicos del Estado Cecyte Cemsad Num. 19
School · 8.0 km
Conocido, Pátzcuaro
Colegio de Estudios Cientificos y Tecnológicos del Estado Cecyte Num.38
School · 3.6 km
Conocido, Pátzcuaro
Healthcare11
Map of Pátzcuaro
230 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Uruapan International Airport (UPN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 47 km away.
- Joya de los Molinos 3 km south, about 3 min by car
- Colonia Vista Bella (Lomas del Peaje) 3 km southeast, about 3 min by car
- Huecorio 4 km northwest, about 4 min by car
- Santa Clara del Cobre 12 km south, about 12 min by car
- Quiroga 19 km northeast, about 19 min by car
- Uruapan 48 km west, about 48 min by car
- Morelia 49 km northeast, about 49 min by car
- Moroleón 81 km northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Uriangato 83 km northeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Zamora de Hidalgo 88 km northwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, Edgar Galindo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Calle con adornos navideños en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 01, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Placa en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro en honor a Gertudis Bocanegra 03, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Placa en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro en honor a Gertudis Bocanegra 02, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Placa en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro en honor a Gertudis Bocanegra 01, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 02, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 01, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Plaque in Municipal Hall of Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 06, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 07, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 05, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 04, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 08, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 09, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 11, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 10, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mural en Palacio municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacio Municipal de Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 03, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Centro, Pátzcuaro, Mich., Mexico - panoramio (3), el semental ingles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 14, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro 01, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 11, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 15, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 12, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 10, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 13, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Christmas 2019 in Vasco de Quiroga Plaza in Pátzcuaro 45, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 05, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 07, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Christmas 2019 in Vasco de Quiroga Plaza in Pátzcuaro 44, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 08, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 09, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Adornos navideños y Nacimiento en Plaza Vasco de Quiroga en Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 06, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ihuatzio1, HJPD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 4thYacatatztztz, Thelmadatter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- FacadeSaludPatz1, Thelmadatter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monument to Morelos on Janitzio Island 021, Isaacvp, CC BY-SA 4.0
- PatzcuaroLakeArea015, AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Portales de patzcuaro - panoramio, el semental ingles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Plaza Principal, Vasco de Quiroga., Rafaelalvarezqro, CC BY-SA 4.0
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