Destinations-Ouro Preto

The city of Ouro Preto (black gold) was founded and raised when gold of a black-like color was found in this area in 1698. The discovery of gold provoked a gold rush, and within 50 years the region drew over 110.000 people. In the 18th century about 500.000 kilos of gold were excavated from the mines surrounding the city. The heavy work was done by slaves. A number of gold-ornamented churches were built in Ouro Preto during its golden-boom, while the rich constructed beautiful houses in colonial baroque art. At the end of the 18th century the gold age was over, and as recourses in the mines dried out many people left the city. Due to its declining economic importance in the past century, no modern office buildings sprouted in its center, like in many other Brazilian cities. Ouro Preto was made a national monument in1933 and put under the protection of UNESCO in 1981.

• ACCESS ROUTES
  There are frequent buses to Belo Horizonte (airport; approximately 2, 5 hours). There are also direct buses to Rio and São Paulo.
• ACCOMMODATION
  All categories. There are some very comfortable and stylish 3- to 4-star hotels in renovated colonial mansions.
• WHEN TO GO
  Ouro Preto fills up during Carnival, being very popular among Brazilian tourists. Accommodation is scarce in the period. Climatologically Ouro Preto can be visited the whole year, although nights can be pretty chilly in winter months (Ouro Preto is about 1100 meters high).
• HOW LONG
  We recommend spending at least two days in the area in order to be able to see the most interesting sights and absorb the atmosphere.