Linares is a beautiful New Leonese town, with beautiful buildings, natural landscapes and its delicious Glories. We invite you to know Linares with this complete guide to this Magic Town.
1. Where is Linares?
Linares is a beautiful New Leonese city, head of the municipality of the same name located in the central-south-eastern part of the state, bordering Tamaulipas. It is bordered by the also New Leonese municipalities of Montemorelos, General Terán, Galeana, Rayones and Iturbide; and with the Tamaulipas municipal entities of Mainero, Villagrán, San Carlos and Burgos. The closest town is Montemorelos, which is 52 km away. to the northwest by Federal Highway 85. Monterrey is located 131 km. and Saltillo 212 km. Ciudad Victoria is 156 km away. south of Linares and Reynosa 253 km. northeast.
2. How did the town arise?
The Hispanic town was founded on April 10, 1712 with the name of San Felipe de Linares, to honor the Duke of Linares and thirty-fifth viceroy of New Spain, Fernando de Alencastre Noroña y Silva, who would die two years later. The title of city came in 1777, as well as the creation of the diocese, making its bishop the most influential religious personality in the region. In the 18th century, thanks mainly to the great Hacienda de Guadalupe, Linares became the main sugarcane producing center in northern Mexico. In 2015, Linares was elevated to the category of Mexican Magic Town, the second town in Nuevo León to obtain this recognition.
3. What is the climate of Linares?
Linares enjoys the warm and temperate climate typical of the region of the coastal plain of the Gulf. The annual average temperature is 22.6 ° C; which rises to 29 ° C in the summer months and drops to 15 ° C in January, which is the coldest month. Extreme temperatures in summer can exceed 36 ° C, while in winter the thermometer can drop to 8 ° C. The precipitations are of 808 mm to the year, very distributed in the year, although between November and March the rains are very little.
4. What are the main attractions to visit in Linares?
Linares has splendid buildings, both civil and religious, in its historic center, standing out the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral of San Felipe Apóstol, the Chapel of the Lord of Mercy, the Municipal Palace, and the museum buildings and the old casino . The Hacienda de Guadalupe is a historic property, while the Cerro Prieto Dam and El Nogalar Park are two excellent places to get in touch with nature and practice outdoor sports. Linares has two magnificent traditions, one culinary and the other musical. The culinary tradition is that of its Glorias, the famous sweet of burnt milk from the town. The musical tradition is that of their drumming ensembles. The Villaseca Fair, in the Linar district of the same name, is the most important festive event.
5. What is the historic center of the city like?
The historic center of Linares is a hospitable space of houses and traditional buildings. In the first block is the Plaza de Armas with its beautiful octagonal kiosk and red roof, trees, beautiful gardens and wrought iron benches. In front of the square are the most emblematic buildings of the city, such as the Municipal Palace and the parish temple. On Thursdays and Sundays the square is usually full of locals and tourists who go to enjoy the free musical concert of the Municipal Band. The houses in downtown Linares are old-fashioned residential architectural style, with high ceilings, spacious rooms, and cool, shady interior patios.
6. What is the interest of the Cathedral of San Felipe Apóstol?
On the property there was previously a missionary temple erected by the Franciscans in 1715. The construction of the current church began in 1777 on the occasion of the elevation of Linares to the rank of city and the creation of the bishopric. The three-section tower was erected during the second half of the 19th century. The main quarry façade is in the Baroque style, with neoclassical ornamental details, and it has a belfry in a belfry, as well as the bell tower, something unusual in Christian architecture. In 2008 the bell tower collapsed; the bells could be recovered, but the original clock was shattered.
7. What stands out in the Chapel of the Lord of Mercy?
This robust quarry chapel with a one-section bell tower and four clearings, was built during the 18th century and, due to its strength, not infrequently served as a refuge against the incursions of hostile indigenous people, particularly Apaches. It was built during the 18th century and is in a primitive baroque style. On the two-body façade, the access has a semicircular arch and the ornamentation is neat, including caryatids and niches. In the chapel an image of the Crucified Jesus is venerated, known as the Christ of Mercy.
8. What is the Municipal Palace like?
This magnificent two-story building in the English neoclassical style is located opposite the Plaza de Armas. On the main facade of the ground floor, the main entrance and four bodies can be seen, of which those at the ends are projections, these flanked by double columns, which are repeated in the projecting bodies of the upper floor. On the upper level there are 7 balconies, including the central one with a bell. On the roof of the second floor there are balustrades. In 2010 the south wing of the building collapsed after Hurricane Alex and the rescue project won the Tektura Biennial 2011 in the field of restoration.
9. What does the Linares Museum offer?
It works in a splendid 18th century building, whose second floor was added in the 19th century to install the Hotel San Antonio, being the first two-story building in the town. The museum opened its doors in 1997 and its 1600 square meters houses a permanent exhibition of 200 pieces on the history of the city and the region from colonial times to the 20th century. It also has spaces for temporary exhibitions and holds plastic arts workshops aimed at children. It is located in Morelos 105, it is open from Tuesday to Sunday (at different times for weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays) and charges a modest fee.
10. What is the attraction of the Casino de Linares?
This beautiful building with French neoclassical lines is located on Calle Madero 151 Norte, in front of the Plaza de Armas. The majestic two-story building has three entrances with semicircular arches and decorated walls on its ground floor. The second floor is distinguished by the four pairs of columns that support the structure and by the three balconies flanked by smaller columns and with low balustrades. The design of the building was inspired by that of the Paris Opera and its construction began in 1927, when gambling was legal, although President Lázaro Cárdenas banned it throughout the country in 1938. It is currently used for cultural and social events.
11. Where is the Hacienda de Guadalupe located?
12 km. east of Linares, on the road that connects the city with the Cerro Prieto Dam, is located this colonial hacienda founded in 1667. Its first owner was Captain Alonso de Villaseca, who took over the property for the exploitation of minerals . Then it passed into the hands of the Jesuits, who auctioned it in 1746, passing through successive private hands. The hacienda reached its greatest splendor in the early 20th century, before the Mexican Revolution. The national government seized the old house and part of the property in 1976; the big house was declared a national monument and is currently the headquarters of the Faculty of Earth Sciences of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León. On the way to the dam there are still the ruins of the aqueduct that fed the old sugar cane mill of the hacienda.
12. What can I do at the Cerro Prieto Dam?
This beautiful body of water is located 18 km. east of the Magic Town. It is frequented by sport fishing enthusiasts looking for snook and other species, as well as fans of camping, classic water skiing, wakeboarding and other land and water entertainment. On the shore of the dam is the Cerro Prieto Recreational Center, which has an area of more than 12 thousand square meters and has cabins with swimming pools, wading pools, billiards room and karaoke; as well as palapas, camping area and facilities for the practice of recreational activities outdoors.
13. What are the attractions of El Nogalar Park?
This beautiful park spans 10 hectares on the road to Galeana, two and a half kilometers from Linares. It is the main water entertainment venue in the city and has several pools, including one with waves, as well as wading pools, slides and two popular attractions called the "pendulum" and the "fast track." Inside the park is the Dr. Peter Meyburg Geological Museum, which exhibits the fossilized remains of a mammoth and other animals from the Pleistocene era that were demure in excavations carried out in the New Leonese municipalities of Mina and Aramberri.
14. How did the music of the drummers come about?
In Linares, it became a tradition to dance the northern jarabeados, performing a skills competition between the dancers, who would get locked by the legs to fall. The music with which these dances were made was played by an Ensemble of Drummers, made up of military-type drums of French heritage and two clarinets, one low and the other high. The most characteristic segments of the musical pieces are the drum rolls and these groups of drummers became part of the cultural and musical heritage of Linares. They appear in the main festivals of the town and other localities and have crossed the Mexican borders, taking the folkloric spectacle of Linarense to the United States, Europe and Japan.
15. What is the history of the Glories?
The main gastronomic ambassadors of Linares in Mexico and the world are the Glorias, a type of burnt milk marquette created in the 1930s in the town by Natalia Medina Núñez. There are two versions of the name of the famous sweet. One points out that their creator started selling them at the casino and customers told her they tasted great. Another indicates that when registering the trade name, when they asked him at the registry office what name he wanted to give his product, he thought of his granddaughter named Gloria. It would be unthinkable that you did not taste a few Glories in your native homeland and that you did not buy a good batch to give away. Then you can think of a goat fry with some compound cakes, or another main dish of the Linar gastronomy.
16. What are the main festivals in Linares?
The most anticipated festival in Linares is the Villaseca Fair, in honor of the Lord of Villaseca, venerated in the Linares neighborhood of the same name. Normally the fair begins during the second half of July, extending for more than a week, and stands out for the cavalcades, charreadas, horse luck and other typical shows. There is a presentation of musical groups at the Teatro del Pueblo and the "Tambora de Villaseca" is awarded, an award for people with outstanding achievements in the year. Between the end of February and the beginning of March the regional fair takes place.
17. Where can I stay in Linares?
In Hidalgo 700 Norte, 5 blocks from the zocalo, is Hacienda Real de Linares, a beautiful colonial hotel with traditional furniture and atmosphere, which has comfortable rooms and an excellent restaurant. The Guidi Hotel is a beautiful establishment located on 201 Morelos Oriente Street, very close to the main square; their rooms are simple but very clean. Garcías Suites and Hotel is located at Carranza 111 Oriente. Less than 50 km. from Linares are Ikaan Villa Spa and Best Western Bazarell Inn. The first is at km. 218 off the national highway near Montemorelos and has top-notch rooms and delicious food. The second is also located near Montemorelos and is a clean, quiet and very cordial accommodation.
18. What are the best places to eat?
The Tierra Noreste Restaurant has a menu of magnificent typical dishes from that region of the country, both in meat and poultry, which are served with exquisite sauces. La Casona de Garza Ríos is a gastronomic pub located in General Anaya 101; to eat, they serve delicious hamburgers, giant burritos and tacos. Pizza & Love is a very cozy place that offers artisan, crispy and tasty pizzas. Bodega Dos20 specializes in seafood, soups and international food; It is a bar and restaurant, and it is also the place with the best atmosphere in Linares to watch a football game on television.
We hope that you will soon be able to go to Linares to enjoy all these attractions that we have had the pleasure of listing for you. See you soon for another virtual tour.
