Pueblo Eden the Tuscany of Uruguay
If you take route 12 from Punta Ballena driving north along the eastern side of Laguna del Sauce, you will end up on highway 9, and another stretch of route 12 appears guiding you along “sierras” to this charming little town called Pueblo Eden.
Not only is it a village that sprouts in green, but it also has architectural aspects of Spanish towns with white facades and tin roofs. A sign at the entrance warns that it is a quiet village where the top speed is 30 km per hour. The road entering the town gently guides you to the heart of the town, where the square and church is, still portraying its beauty with hills of seven colors and spectacular sunsets behind the “sierras.” On sunny days, the skies are always intense blue, adding more beauty to the place.
The roads in Pueblo Eden are generally empty. People are seen in the gardens, and occasionally locals are chatting in front of their houses on their bikes. Now and then, riders ride through, or a modern car arrives and drives around the streets. The improvement of communications makes so many Uruguayans and foreigners choose it as a place to visit, rest, and stay to live.
It has countless attractions such as lodgings of country houses, bed, and breakfast, craft sale, organic market, country-style restaurant, and guided visits to wineries and oil mills. The prestigious UTE wind project: “Los Caracoles” is nearby.
Trails from and to Pueblo Eden start in nature that seem magical either on horseback or trekking and reaches some of the most typical places near the town.
History of Pueblo Eden
Pueblo Edén, also known as Mataojo, located a few kilometers from the border with Lavalleja, has a combination of cultural influences, with founder’s descendants who have lived here for a long time. New residents are part of a growing expat community that chose this place to live.
On August 8, 1917, Don Román Furtado, owner of fields at the banks of the Pintado stream, divided his land into plots and this is how we can talk about the founding of Villa de Mataojo de San Carlos. The first settler of that Villa was Mr. Zoilo Martínez, and the primary school teacher was Mr. José Frade. This was the start of being populated and transformed into what we today know as Pueblo Eden.
There was a time of significant progress in the area when several industries were installed. We can remember the wheat plantations and mills of Tassano and Moreira. Today we still know of the famous warehouse of Jacinto Torres, a large store known as La Casona – which was completely restored and is now for sale – where you could find everything.
As well as the house of Don Vital Tort and the great dances that were held in The Club Oriental (that means being Uruguayan), where Don Froilán Plada played the accordion, and Don Flor Urrutia sang. There was also a fair venue held by Don Román Furtado and later on by Don Diego Furtado. The fair still operates once a month.
After this time of boom, little by little many people migrated to the city to find work and a better future. A reality that affected not only Pueblo Eden but most of the rural areas of the department of Maldonado.
Pueblo Edén became known after the Argentine stylist Roberto Giordano purchased a piece of land there in 2007. Some 50 neighbors reside permanently, reaching 250 of the area within a radius of about 10 km.
Pueblo Eden has transformed its reality. The simplicity of its environment with changing greens, its peaceful square, and its austere chapel provoke and invite to yoga and meditation, is the reason why frequent visitors linger and enjoy this place. Located only 40 kilometers from Punta Del Este, the village invites you to breathe peace and tranquility in a privileged area where the natural landscape excels. Therefore, it is natural that the accomplishment of artistic and cultural activities reaffirms the local identity.
Restaurants
There is only one single place to have lunch at Pueblo Eden. No signs are indicating the location but everyone finds it. La Posta de Vaimaca is one of the most original and unique restaurants in Uruguay. The food is natural and using their own resources and the old recipes of the local people.
Most of the people venturing into the restaurant are mostly foreigners and Uruguayans on a field trip, which prefer to have lunch surrounded by nature and under the shade of a vine. The idea is to spend time there, enjoying the garden with no hurry and the original meals. At night the patio is open and offers nice dinner tables under the summer stars.
There is plenty of time in Pueblo Eden. Several signs are indicating the need to slow down and to take it easy. This quiet place invites visitors to visit the small town walking and discovering the beauty of an Uruguayan village with no hurry. Locals are also accommodating and willing to explain how to get by.
Wine
Viña Edén is the new ecotourism attraction of Maldonado right before Pueblo Eden coming on Ruta 12 from Punta Del Este. The winery, which opened its doors to tourists in 2017, receives more and more visitors to eat or simply taste their fantastic wines. The winery continues adding services to complete its offer both for visitors and for the realization of events.
New Projects
The need to find a safe haven, and the search for a better quality of life, has led to a significant increase in land value never seen before in the region of Pueblo Eden. However, the land values are still below those from Argentina and Brazil. This explains the number of regional investors in the area of Pueblo Eden.
The use of natural resources and substantial investment in rural facilities will hopefully remain in years to come, and Pueblo Eden will be a witness of this transformation. For information on Pueblo Eden Properties or Real Estate in Uruguay, please contact us. We currently have several interesting properties for sale in the Pueblo Eden Area. See link below