Tepotzotlán facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tepotzotlán
Town and municipality
Tepotzotlán Location in State of Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	State of Mexico
Founded	1525
Municipal Status	1814
Area
• Municipality	208.83 km2 (80.63 sq mi)
Elevation (of seat)	2,300 m (7,500 ft)
Population  (2005) Municipality
• Municipality	67,724
• Seat	39,374
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (US Central))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central)
Postal code (of seat)	54600
Website	http://www.tepotzotlan.gob.mx/
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Former college of San Francisco Javier in Tepotzotlán
Part of	Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
Criteria	Cultural: (ii)(iv)
Inscription	2010 (34th Session)
Area	6.59 ha (16.3 acres)
Buffer zone	40.59 ha (100.3 acres)

Tepotzotlan Cathedral

Tepotzotlán is a city and a municipality in the Mexican state of Mexico. It is located 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Mexico City, about a 45-minute drive. In Aztec times, the area was a powerful center. It managed to stay mostly independent, even while allied with the Aztec Triple Alliance. Later, under Spanish rule, it was part of a "Republic of the Indians," which gave it some freedom.

During the colonial period, Tepotzotlán became a major learning center. This happened when the Jesuits established the College of San Francisco Javier. The college complex, started in 1580, was a school until 1914. Today, this complex is home to the Museo del Virreinato (Museum of the Colonial Period). It has one of the largest collections of art and objects from that time.

The name Tepotzotlán comes from the Nahuatl language. It means "among humpbacks," referring to the shape of the hills around the area. The oldest Aztec symbol (glyph) for this place is in the Codex Osuna. It shows a humpbacked person sitting on a hill. This symbol is now used by the municipality. Another version of the symbol shows a humpbacked person protecting a "teocalli" (a sacred place).

The municipality also has a European-style coat-of-arms. It includes the official symbol in the upper part. It also shows the Arcos del Sitio, the front of the Church of San Francisco Javier, and chimneys and a tractor. These represent both farming and industry found here. Underneath these are the words "Libertad, Cultura y Trabajo" (Liberty, Culture and Work).

History of Tepotzotlán

The first people to live here were likely the Otomi. They settled between 2500 BCE and 100 CE. Around 100 CE, the Teotihuacan people became powerful. The Otomis here were under Teotihuacan rule until about 700 CE. As Teotihuacan declined, a Nahua-Chichimeca tribe took control of this area.

After this, other Nahua and Chichimeca people arrived in the Valley of Mexico. The area was then ruled by a chief named Xotlotl. He explored the valley's lakes and took the first census, counting about a million people. Rule passed peacefully for many generations until the early 14th century. Conflicts with nearby Xaltocan and Texcoco led to political problems.

In the early 15th century, the Aztec Empire began to grow. In 1460, Ayactlacatzin, the ruler of this area, made a deal with Moctezuma I. This allowed the area, renamed Tepotzotlán, to remain semi-independent. This arrangement lasted until the fall of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1521.

Macuilxochitzin was governor of Tepotzotlán when the Spanish arrived in 1520. This area resisted the Spanish invasion. When the Spanish took over the main city, they destroyed everything.

Christian missionaries, like Alonso de Guadalupe and Alonso de Herrero, began their work here in 1525. They built a small chapel over the ruins of the old city. The Church of San Pedro Apostol stands on this site today. Other missionaries, like Toribio de Benavente Motolina and Jerónimo de Mendieta of the Franciscans, followed. By 1547, Tepotzotlan was a center for spreading the new faith.

Diego Nequametzin, son of Macuilxochitzin, ruled under the Spanish from 1534 to 1549. However, severe economic problems and diseases like typhoid and smallpox greatly reduced the population. Eventually, the area came under the control of an encomienda (a Spanish land grant) led by Juan de Ortega. After Ortega died, the land became property of the Spanish Crown. They created a "corregimiento" (a district) under the nearby city of Cuautitlán. The local people were given some freedom as a "Republic of the Indians."

In 1580, the first Jesuits arrived. They established three schools. One trained Jesuit priests in local languages. Another, San Martín, taught Indian boys Spanish, reading, writing, religion, music, and trade skills. The third was a college to train Jesuit novices. This college, named the College of San Francisco Javier, made Tepozotlán famous as a major educational center in New Spain. Many famous Jesuits studied here.

These Jesuit schools and their large land holdings helped the area grow culturally and economically. This continued until the Jesuits were expelled from Mexico in 1767. After their expulsion, the school complex was used for training priests until it was abandoned in the early 20th century. Tepozotlán became a municipality in 1814. It remained a quiet, rural area until the Mexico City-Querétaro highway was built in 1954. This highway greatly impacted Tepotzotlán's economy, making it part of the growing Mexico City Metropolitan Area.

About the City of Tepotzotlán

The city of Tepotzotlán is very close to the Mexico City-Querétaro highway. This highway crosses through the municipality. The city includes neighborhoods like San Martín, Tlacateco, and Capula. Because of the highway and the growth of Mexico City, the city is growing fast. Its population increases by about 3.5% each year.

The highway has made it easy for people to move here from Mexico City since the 1950s. This movement sped up after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. The Tepotzotlán area is much safer from strong shaking than Mexico City itself.

The parts of town closest to the highway are the most developed. They have industrial parks and housing areas. However, the center of town still looks like it did in colonial times. It has cobblestone alleys, arched walkways, and plazas. There is a small plaza in front of the main church with a kiosk where many cultural events happen.

The municipal market is famous for its food stands. They sell traditional dishes like quesadillas, sopes, pambazos, and tacos. You can also find barbacoa and carnitas. More special dishes include cabrito, chapulines, snails, and escamoles (ant eggs). These are often found in local restaurants. On weekends, outdoor markets called tianguises appear all over the town center. They sell food, crafts, art, handmade furniture, and leather items.

Tepotzotlán hosts several festivals. These include the Festival of Flowers in March and the Feast of Saint Peter in June. There is also the Festival of the Señor del Nicho in September and the International Festival of Music in September.

The city had a population of 39,374 in 2005. It is 2300 meters (about 7,546 feet) above sea level. Tepotzotlán has been named one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns). This is mainly because its town center has kept its colonial look. It is also home to the Church of San Francisco Javier and the Museo del Virreinato. Since becoming a Pueblo Mágico, much effort has gone into restoring the town's historic buildings.

Museum of the Viceroyalty of New Spain

The Museo del Virreinato, or Museum of the Colonial Period, is in a complex built by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in the 1580s. Here, they started three schools. One trained Jesuit missionaries in Mexico's native languages. The second educated Indian boys. The third was the College of San Francisco Javier, which trained Jesuit priests. These schools made Tepotzotlán one of the most important learning centers in New Spain.

Most of the complex is now the Museo del Virreinato. It is considered one of the most impressive museums in Mexico. This is due to its collection and the beauty of the building. The complex has several courtyards, like the Aljibes and the Naranjo. It also has a chapel, library, dorms, a dining hall (refectory), and a kitchen. A wide arched path at the back leads to large gardens. These gardens are over 3 hectares (about 7.4 acres) and have sculptures and the original Salta de Agua fountain. This fountain marked the end of the old Chapultepec aqueduct.

Much of the museum's collection comes from the old Museum of Religious Art in the Mexico City Cathedral. It is one of the largest collections from the Mexican colonial era. There are also exhibits of everyday items from that time. These include silverware, precious metal objects, textiles, and tools. The Church of San Francisco Javier is no longer used for religious services. It is now part of the museum. This church has one of the most important collections of Churrigueresque altarpieces in Mexico.

About the Municipality of Tepotzotlán

Geography and Communities

The city of Tepotzotlán is the main town of the municipality. It governs many smaller communities. Some of the largest communities are San Mateo Xóloc, Santa Cruz, and Santiago Cuahutlalpan. The total population of the municipality was 67,724 in 2005.

While small in number, some indigenous groups still live here, like the Nahuas and Otomis. There is also a community of Triques. They came from Oaxaca and still speak the Trique language.

The municipality was founded in 1814. It shares borders with other municipalities like Huehuetoca and Cuautitlán Izcalli. It also borders the State of Hidalgo. The total area is 208.8 km² (80.6 sq mi). The altitude varies from 2,250 to 2,900 meters (7,380 to 9,510 ft) above sea level.

The climate is mostly temperate. Most rain falls in the summer, and freezing temperatures are common in winter. Winds mainly come from the northeast. About 91% of the municipality is rural, with 9% developed. Much of the rural area is the Sierra de Tepotzotlán mountain range. There are two rivers, the Hondo de Tepotzotlán and the Lanzarote. There are also many freshwater springs and streams. One large dam, La Concepción, and several smaller ones are used mainly for raising fish.

Most rural land is forest (47%). Farming and fish production each make up about 20%. Together, agriculture and fish farming account for over 40% of the municipality's economy. Industry is also growing, with over ninety factories making metals, processed meats, car parts, textiles, and dyes. Tourism is the third largest economic activity. It is mostly focused on the town center, the Arcos del Sitio, and the ecological park. Much of the valley is still used for farming, but this is changing due to urbanization. New industrial parks and housing developments are being built to handle the increasing population moving from Mexico City.

Interesting Places to Visit

The Aqueduct of Xalpa, also known as the Arcos del Sitio, is a huge aqueduct. It carried water from the Oro River to Tepozotlán. The Jesuits started building it in the 18th century to bring water to their monastery and college. However, they were expelled from Mexico in 1767, so it was not finished. Manuel Romero de Terreros completed it in the 19th century.

The aqueduct gets its name "Arcos del Sitio" from the deep gorge it crosses. Here, the aqueduct is 61 meters (200 ft) high, with four levels of arches. The total length of the aqueduct is 41,900 metres (137,500 ft; 41.9 km; 26.0 mi). It is the highest aqueduct in Latin America. This gorge is at the site of the old La Concepcíon Hacienda. This was one of many properties owned by the Jesuits. Today, the hacienda is open to the public by appointment. It can host guests and special events.

The Centro Ecoturístico y de Educación Ambiental (Ecotourism and Environmental Education Center) is also here. It covers 54 hectares (130 acres) and offers activities like hiking, mountain biking, and camping. The area is home to many reptiles, amphibians, and birds. About 750,000 people visit this park each year.

The Parque Ecológico Xochitla (Xochitla Ecological Park) is three kilometers (1.9 mi) outside the city of Tepotzotlán. It used to be a hacienda called La Resurrección. The non-profit Xochitla Foundation operates it. It is about 70 hectares (170 acres) of parkland with about 7,000 types of trees and plants. It has workshops, playgrounds, exhibitions, a greenhouse, and a lake with many aquatic plants. It also has a very large and old ginkgo biloba tree from China.

The Sierra de Tepotzotlán state park covers 13,175 hectares (32,560 acres) across Tepotzotlán and Huehuetoca municipalities. It was named a state park and ecological preservation zone in 1977. However, parts of the sierra have since been used to create Military Base 37C. The sierra has forests of oak and strawberry trees, along with scrub and meadows. In lower areas, you can find cactus and agave. Along the river, there are ash trees, willows, and others. Wildlife includes small mammals like coyotes and squirrels, and many birds and reptiles. You can enjoy hiking, camping, swimming, rock climbing, and rappelling here.

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See also

In Spanish: Tepotzotlán para niños