Chautla Hacienda

About

Built on an enormous flat of farmland northwest of Puebla, this colonial Chautla Hacienda has seen many changes throughout the centuries. The hacienda was first built to process the natural resources of the area and stimulate the economy. The main production was the farming of grain, which created jobs and eventually created the basis of the economy at the time. In the 19th century, it was bought by an Englishman named Thomas Gillow, who later passed it on to his son. While maintaining the production of grain and wheat, he sought to modernize the hacienda by introducing early electricity and even building the first hydroelectric power plant on the estate. He also built one of the property’s most iconic structures, 'El Castillo' (The Castle), which overlooks the dam on the property. Today the hacienda is a cultural center where you can spend the day learning about colonial history and wandering the expansive grounds.