Real del Monte
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◈ Many stories come together in this town with a mining legacy: its mansions and buildings with an English air are surrounded by the aroma of pasties and pulque bread wafting from its ovens.
Meanwhile, the cold and fog come down in the afternoons, covering the old mines’ chimneys and tall pines in the cemetery holding the remains of the British miners who worked here and contributed to the identity of this town in the mountains of Hidalgo.
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◆ Wander through the museum at Mina La Dificultad.
◆ Dig into pasties.
◆ Check out the graves in the Panteón Inglés cemetery for British immigrants.
Mina de Acosta, its warehouse, shaft, machine room, and superintendent’s house.
❖ Mina de Acosta
Beginning in the colonial era, silver production forged the history of Real del Monte. In 1998, a group of enthusiastic researchers and mining fans set out to study, protect, and spotlight Mina de Acosta’s physical remains, a result of its many stages of exploitation.
Now the space is open to the public, sharing the history of one of Hidalgo’s richest mines.
Equipped with a hard hat, coveralls, and a flashlight, you can enter the 18th-century mine shaft that descends 1,312 feet.
Head inside just like the English businessmen of days gone by, and explore the mine’s spectacular veins and geological formations. Also there’s a museum, Museo de Sitio, which exhibits furniture and machinery from the time.
❖ Museo Casa Grande
This museum was first built by the Compañía de Aventureros de las Minas organization. Later on, it held the offices of the business Cajas Reales de Pachuca. It holds memories and legends.
The museum has presented international expositions and has hosted the Festival Internacional de la Imagen celebrating the impact of visual imagery.
❖ Panteón Inglés
The blend of mestizo culture with that of British immigrants is readily apparent in this Magical Town, and the Panteón Inglés is a clear example of it.
This cemetery holds the remains of miners who worked this ground, as well as a few of the unusual characters who lived here. Perhaps the most famous story is that of Richard Bell, a British clown who came to Real del Monte to found a circus.
His last wish was to be buried facing away from his native country because his countrymen looked down on him for coming from humble beginnings.
❖ Make Your Own Pasty
In the 19th century, the first British immigrants from the county of Cornwall brought their Cornish pasties to Real del Monte. Like turnovers, they are pastries filled with meat and vegetables.
Nowadays, many of the town’s homes have red brick ovens where women bake this delicious treat—an essential part of any party or family get-together. We recommend heading to Pastes El Portal and digging in to their traditional potato and beef version.
A good spot to learn how to make them for yourself is in Museo del Paste, a museum that will transport you through time with its kitchen’s objects and creations. You can also learn about the history of this dish in its interactive and audiovisual galleries.
❖ Discover the Downtown Streets
When you get to Real del Monte, you should stroll down Hidalgo street and take a look at its most important points of interest.
First, you’ll come across Plaza Juárez. Across from this square, is the striking Monumento al Minero. This bronze statue in front of a high pillar pays tribute to miners. Behind that is the market, with its distinctive facade and wide set of windows.
It is worth popping in here to get ceramics, berries, and edible flowers, plus some traditional beef tacos de cabeza.
Around the northern corner of the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción church is the Portal del Comercio building with its archway; this is where Maximillian and Charlotte stayed in 1865.
On the ground floor there are several shops selling silver products, but without a doubt, the most popular spot is Pastes El Portal, a business run by don Ciro Peralta. He is proud to be the only one still selling potato and beef meat pies, here called pastes, made from the original recipe.
❖ Spend an Afternoon in Parque de Peñas Cargadas
This small valley in the middle of the woods is known for its large boulders and an extreme zip line over half a mile long that is just one part of a long circuit made up of 30 lines. They run along 10 miles in all.
If you are not interested in doing the complete circuit, you can choose the number of lines you want. Prices run from 80 pesos for a couple zip lines to up to 1,200 pesos for the whole route. You can also rent ATVs and bicycles, ride horses, or even have a campfire.
Where
Just over 6 miles east of Real del Monte, on the road towards Epazoyucan
When
Daily, 8 am to 6 pm
Useful Information
The best time to go is during the week as it can get crowded on weekends. Grills are available, but you need to take your own food because none is for sale at the park.
Every May 3rd, you can watch a climbing event that includes ascents on zip lines, music, and a lot of dancing. Don’t miss it!
❖ Festival de la Plata
For the last few years, this silver festival has been held during the month of June to celebrate the town’s more than 500 years of mining history. During the event, around 150 artisans show off their creations made with precious metals. You can pick up all kinds of objects made with silver at the best prices, as well as enjoying many festivities.
When: July
❖ Festival del Paste
This event brings together all the pasty makers, each with their own way of making them. There are also British bakers who bake traditional pastries according to the original recipe (the Cornish way). You can discover this yummy dish in all its wide variety.
When: The second week of October
