Ojojona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ojojona
Municipality
Seal
Ojojona Location in Honduras
Country	Honduras
Department	Francisco Morazán
Founded	1579
Area
• Total	260 km2 (100 sq mi)
Population  (2015)
• Total	10,729
• Density	41.3/km2 (106.9/sq mi)
Climate	Cwb

Ojojona is a cool town in Honduras. It's a municipality in the Francisco Morazán area. You can find it about 34 kilometers (21 miles) south of Tegucigalpa, the capital city. Many people visit Ojojona because it's a beautiful and interesting place. A famous painter named Pablo Zelaya Sierra was born here!

Where is Ojojona Located?

Ojojona is surrounded by other towns. To the north, it borders the Central District. To the south, you'll find the towns of Reitoca and Sabanagrande. On the east side, it's next to Santa Ana and Sabanagrande. And to the west, it borders Reitoca and Lepaterique. The town sits on a small flat area on one of the hills of Cerro de Hule, right at the bottom of the Payaguagre mountain.

A Look Back: Ojojona's History

Before the Spanish arrived, the area where Ojojona is now was home to the Lenca indigenous people.

How Ojojona Started

In 1579, Spanish miners founded Ojojona. They came to work in the gold and silver mines nearby. By 1739, official papers already mentioned Ojojona as a "Pueblo" (a town).

Growing as a Community

In 1791, during a population count, Ojojona was listed as the main town of a parish (a church district). Later, in 1889, it became a municipality within the Sabanagrande District.

A National Treasure

The old part of Ojojona, called the Historic Center of San Juan de Ojojona, was declared a National Monument in November 1996. This means it's a very important place for the country's history and culture.

Fun Places to Visit in Ojojona

Ojojona has many interesting spots for visitors to explore!

Ocotillo Viewpoint

This is a hill covered in pine trees just outside the town. From here, you get an amazing view of Ojojona below. It's a perfect spot for a picnic!

Pueblo Viejo Rock Shelters

About eight kilometers from the historic center, you can find these cool rock shelters. There's also a natural cave that goes quite deep.

Cross of Miracles

This is an old monument that people have kept for a long time. It's a special meeting point for people who go on long walks for their beliefs.

Guazulán Mine Entrances

These mines were once used by Spanish and Irish miners. Some people believe that the architect Ladislao Valladares included these mine entrances in his first drawing of Honduras's National Coat of Arms. However, there's no strong proof for this idea yet.

Chilate Ranch

This is a small village where old traditions are still alive. You can enjoy a country-style lunch, a drink called chilate, and delicious donuts with honey. They also hold special events here called Guancaso activities, which include bonfires and picnics.

Pablo Zelaya Sierra's House

Pablo Zelaya House in the main Plaza.

This house used to be a museum from the 1980s until the early 2000s. Sadly, a fire damaged it in 2001. But it was fixed up in 2007! Today, part of the house is a café and cultural center. Another part is used by a school that teaches different skills.

Villa Trinidad

Church of Nuestra señora del Carmen.

This house is famous because General Francisco Morazán was captured here in 1827. You can visit it to learn more about its history. There's also a restaurant and café called Luna Lenca where you can try traditional food and coffee grown in Ojojona's mountains.

Historic Buildings

Ojojona's Historic Center has 36 old buildings that date back to the 1600s! Some of these include the Town Hall, the Casa Cural (priest's house), the Casona de Pancha Martínez, the Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, and the Church of San Juan Bautista (which started being built in the mid-1600s). Villa Trinidad is also one of these special buildings.

Villages in Ojojona

The municipality of Ojojona has 12 recognized villages, including the main town itself:

• Ojojona (the main town)
• El Aguacatal
• El Círculo
• Aragua
• El Jícaro
• Guasucarán
• Güerisne
• Santa Cruz
• Saracarán
• Surcos de Caña
• Cofradía de Jícaro
• Cofradía de Güerisne

See also

In Spanish: Ojojona para niños