Bariloche Travel Guide: History of Bariloche

Deriving its name from the indigenous Argentine word “Vuriloche” which means “people from behind the mountain”, this city was used as a passageway across the Andes by the ancient indigenous civilizations - such as the Tehuelches, Puelches and later the more powerful Chilean tribe the Araucan – who were able to keep it a well-kept secret from Europeans for a long period of time.

The Spanish finally did arrive in Bariloche in the 1650’s when Spanish Captain Juan Fernández arrived on the Lake Nahuel Huapi while on his search for Indian slaves and a fantastical treasure located at the “City of Caesars”. During this time, Spanish Jesuits started a mission on the island to evangelize the peoples living there and established one at Chiloé Island in 1672 which ran until 1717. 

The late 1800’s saw the arrival of more conquistadors, with Argentine authorities sending expeditions to this remote area of the world. The Argentine army succeeded in invading the region, under the notion it would be under the domain of the indigenous peoples, while also recognizing the rivers and lakes of the area. Finally in 1892, Bariloche saw the arrival of the first white settlers, primarily American and German settlers.

One of these settlers was German trader Carlos Wietherholdt who constructed a home and shop exactly where the city of Bariloche would later be formed. This began the commercial activity for the area. He exported leather, wool, cheese, butter, potatoes and other goods with Puerto Montt in Chile. Settlers kept coming in bunches, setting up sawmill, blacksmith shops and milk farms and thus continuing the development of the small community.

In the beginning of the 18th century, Swiss immigrants arrived in Bariloche. This marked the beginning of what eventually become the heterogeneous populations of this region of Patagonia. These groups would hold skilled laborers such as shoe-makers and blacksmiths in high regards as the community relied heavily on these trades for their livelihood.

The “alpine town” look that characterizes this charming city came as a new phase in construction of the city center in the 1930’s. This “Little Switzerland” notion transformed the city center into buildings made of wood and stone. By 1909 there were close to 1,250 residents living in the city which was quickly developing and by this point already featured a post office, telegraph and interconnecting road to the city of Neuquén. Commerce in the city still depended on Chile, however, until a railroad system was constructed in 1934. Before then the town would see the first paved road for motor vehicles as a result from a visit by then American president Theodore Roosevelt in 1913, with the first plan arriving in 1921 during a stopover.

The city made international press headlines in 1995 when it was found that former Nazi war criminals such as high-ranking official SS 'Hauptsturmführer' Erich Priebke had been hiding away there for decades. Despite this notoriety, the Patagonian town has seen vast number of tourists who are looking for a winter getaway in breathtaking Bariloche.