San Luis Soyatlán


San Luis Soyatlán is a town located in the state of Jalisco in central-western Mexico, and is part of the municipality of Tuxcueca. It is the largest population of its municipality, where more than 60% of the population exists, and generating 70% of revenues. Sitting on the south shore of Lake Chapala, and about 45 minutes south from the city of Guadalajara.
Its name comes from two languages, a Castilian; "San Luis" which refers to the patronage of the saint of the population; Saint Louis of Toulouse, and the other "Soyatlán" which is Nahuatl meaning "place of soyates".

History

It is known that the municipality of Tuxcueca was inhabited before the Spanish conquest; San Luis Soyatlán was founded by nomadic Chichimeca tribes who settled on the side of the river Las Cerretas. Some years before the conquest this region was invaded and governed by the King of the Purépecha, Tangaxoan Tzíntzicha who took over the coveted saltpetre fields of Zacoalco and Sayula. By the end of the early 16th century this led to the Saltpetre War against the King of Colima.
Since its establishment as an official town, it was formerly part of the municipality of Jocotepec. However, due to the intervention of General Ramón Corona, on April 20, 1886 the town of Tuxcueca stands itself as a municipality, during the tenure of Governor Francisco Tolentino, separating from the municipality of Tizapán el Alto. In 1888, October 1, San Luis Soyatlán was added to the municipality, separating from Jocotepec.

Attractions

The locality of San Luis Soyatlán is perhaps the strongest of the municipality as far as the tourist sector goes. This locality is a very urban-like site, since the highway crosses right through the middle of the town. And throughout the same route are different commercial premises, stores, an inn, restaurants, ice cream parlours, fruit shops, pharmacies, among other commerce.

Parks

Eden Ecological Park of over 40,000m2 located next to the lake's southern shore consisting of two docks, grills, playground, tables, walks, two streams, palm tree lined base, cypresses, grasses, shrubs, bathrooms, meeting areas, and a view of the northern shore.

Town’s Center

Saint Louis of Toulouse Church. First as an adobe chapel in 1564 by the French Sebastian Vilches and Christopher Berlanga, it was completed on December 22, 1885. standing in front of a Square Atrium with religious statues, a forum, meeting rooms, restrooms and public parking. It is the main place for public events.
The Plaza de Armas, dates from the fifteenth century has undergone several renovations, has benches, a gazebo, trees, a fountain and commercial area. In front of the plaza, located on the south side, is the Municipal Delegation or the regional City Hall. Construction of a seventeenth-century style with arches, where municipal services are delivered. And an Apeadero The seventeenth-century portals traditionally used for commercial purposes.
The central zone also has a Municipal Market, a regional gastronomic area, that sits right across from the plaza and south of the church's atrium
Capilla del Señor de la Salud is located a few blocks from the main church of San Luis Soyatlán. This Christ is revered and is considered miraculous, so it is important to include it in recommended sites to visit in the municipality.

Rural Areas

Situated less than 5 km south of the population, located on a hill top of about 273 meters higher than the lake shore, is the Mirador y la Cruz. Where a big metal cross stands “overlooking” the north shore of the lake and the town itself, with a shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe nearby.
El Salto waterfall over 30m in height, it's visited mostly during the rainy season.
Among the natural attractions of the surrounding landscapes include The Garcia Mountain, the highest mountain on the lake's shore, with almost 2,600m in height. Providing a high view of the entire lake, Sierra del Tigre, Huejotitán Valley, to the basin of Sayula and El Picacho. It also has small caves at the summit where some vessels and ceramics have been found.
The natural wealth available to the municipality is represented by 10,400 hectares of woodland, where mainly oak and pine species predominate.

Festivities

are festivities in honor to Saint Louis of Toulouse. These patron saint festivities are held from the 10 to the 19 of August, with pilgrimages around the town, morning masses with early morning in devotion to the saint and during the evening; rides, fireworks, balloon posts, food stands, and serenades in the main plaza during the night. The festivities are held in August from the 11th to the 19th.
Like most common fiestas patronales in Mexico, each day is given a guild. Every guild is given a particular group of people to fund it, along with one of its four districts: San Juan District, San Miguel District, San Pedro District, or San Francisco District. The guilds are as follows:
  1. Guild of the Youth, Masons, and Fishermen.
  2. Guild of the Absent Children from Guadalajara.
  3. Guild of the Town Council.
  4. Guild of the Livestock Owners and Communal Lands Holders.
  5. Guild of the Absent Children from the United States. With a unique tradition done only in San Luis of a soccer game played between the people that live in the town year-round and the people that come from the U.S.
  6. Guild of the Town in General. On 19 August, the town invites the neighboring towns of San Nicolas de Acuña and La Puerta de San Nicolas to the fiesta, which is followed traditionally with a pilgrimage of those towns' people into San Luis.
  7. Guild of the Commercialists. With a tradition of a contracted instrumental band doing a certain number of songs in front of the small businesses of the town.
  8. Guild of the Professionals and Missionaries.
  9. Individual Guild and Town in General. The Individual guild is paid by one person or family.
Every day is given a color. The people whose day their given, wear a sash of that color during the traditional pilgrimage done during each afternoon before mass. The current colors are as follows:
  1. White
  2. Royal Blue
  3. Sky Blue
  4. Green
  5. Red
  6. Tint
  7. Yellow
  8. Orange
  9. Purple
Enramadas are festivities held throughout the entire lent period. A time when huts, serving food and drinks, are placed at the town's lake riviera park.

In popular culture

The Town has been mentioned in a few Mexican Regional songs. "Don Arturo Garcia", a song by Chalino Sánchez, mentions San Luis and nearby towns. Also the song "Jose Reyes" by Banda el Recodo.

Schools