An ideal destination for motoring fans on a weekend getaway

Fangio and Senna gathered in a single destination AT the reach of a weekend visit can be an interesting temptation to know Balcarce. But, in addition, there are field, potato, stay, archaeological park and typical dessert. A quiet life in a beautiful city at a reasonable distance from the city of Buenos Aires and very close to Mar del Plata.

To the Heirs of Senna They had come up with Netflix’s pilot’s life. But, in addition, they wanted that production did not leave the southern cone. Two dilemmas worried them: the scenarios and cars. A couple of keys without which the dream of the series was unrealizable.

While there were Find destinations to rebuild different circuits In Montevideo, Mar del Plata and Buenos Aires, Balcarce was the high city raised his hand in the decision room. A five -year -old

With the rage planted in the new generations by Franco Colapinto, Formula 1 becomes an interesting proposal to share a family activity and take a weekend trip or a scale on a longer vacation.

The perfect destination is Balcarceto just over 400 kilometers from the city of Buenos Aires and 74 of Mar del Plata, it becomes a perfect option to spend a couple of days, or flee from a little beach day.

The tour of the town surprises you on the route with its undulating path which shows you the Massif of Tandilia, one of the oldest geological formations on the planet (between 1,500 and 2.2 billion years).

So close to the sea, an alignment of hard rocks and low hills that last 300 kilometers from the northwest to the Southeast of the province of Buenos Aireshave a particular attribute in this city: the Balcarce formation, a sequence of stones that settled thanks to the presence of an old sea.

Pope kingdomthe city is large and never loses its neighborhood air, even when you reach the typical nucleus of every small Buenos Aires urban conglomerate.

Balcarce, like almost all the cities of the province, clears around its main squareFreedom, a wonderful lung for summer afternoons, get some ball with the boys, rest under the trees or make long walks.

There is a place for all: it has four Apples full of pergolas with vines and some statues of value, such as the monument to the Republic, erected on the May Pyramid. This is where the main festivities of the city and where the set of the most prominent buildings is concentrated.

One after another are the Municipal Palace -That dates from 1929-, the source with the monument to Brigadier General Antonio González Balcarce, who was second head of the Andes Army, the Bank of the Argentine Nation, the San José Church, of Roman style, dating from the year 1886.

The Plaza Libertad was projected by the architect Francisco Salamonethe largest exponent of national public architecture. The slaughterhouse, the cemetery portal and the Normal School in front of the square are the works that are preserved in the city.

And, of course, also on the side of one of the corners of the same park, is the Juan Manuel Fangio motor racing museum.

This site is precisely the Epicenter of motor racing in Argentina. A long journey that began in the 70s and summoned the local people and Fangio himself, under the goal of gather all your belongings in a single site.

The initiative led to the Inauguration of the museum in 1986 (business days from 10 to 17, weekends and holidays from 10 to 18, $ 17,000 for adults, $ 13,000 for minors).

For that, a totally abandoned place composed of the former municipality and the old Deliberative Council was recovered.

Seven floors were designed in a racing circuit that historically travels Fangio’s sports life, in addition to the most important milestones of road tourism and Argentine motoring in general.

To this nut experience, the Tulio Crespi workshopwho with their six children is a local institution. He was chosen to design cars that rebuild the story of Ayrton Senna for the Netflix series.

It was there that 22 race vehicles were reproduced, including an MCLAREN MP4/5 of 1989/1990, another MP4/4 of 1988 and the Ferrari F641 of Alain Prost. Today Several of those pieces can be seen in the same factory (It’s free).

Tulio, in addition, has created the Crespi Formula Concepta reproduction service of these cars that who wishes can acquire.

In 1991 Juan Manuel Fangio was already an expert host. He took Balcarce to all his friends whenever he could, and used to invite international figures to his hometown.

Concerned with not having the right space, In 1991 he bought a stay 15 kilometers from the city that went through several hands After his death, converted into a hotel, not always with good tino.

Hoy, Under the name of “El Casco de Fangio” has been ready And it offers, in addition to accommodation, typical gaucho cuisine: roasted, homemade pastes with stew and milanesas, accompanied by the “Fangio Legend” wines of the Bournett winery, with five strains in homage to the respective titles of the champion.

With the contribution of specialists from the University of Mar del Plata and some local scientists, life was given to the Geopark Pun Antü on the outskirts of the city (Free and free admission, Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 15, Saturdays and Sundays from 14 to 18), a circuit composed of sites of geological interest that cover 2.2 billion years of natural history of the region.

The tour begins chronologically from that milestone, represented by the Buenos Aires complex, passes through the Balcarce formation (460-480 million years) and ends in the quaternary (10,000 – 11,000 years). In addition, the site museum anchored to admission allows you to observe pieces recovered from the same park, with dating and museum signing.

Although momentarily closed waiting for repairs, the Juan Manuel Fangio Autodrome It is remembered on the northwest slope of the Sierra “La Barrosa”. It deserves the visit because it is an exclusive panoramic point, whose slopes become natural stands that not only allow to see almost all of the 5 kilometers of the circuit, but to have a competence image of the city and mountain paths.

There near, you are also Laguna La Bravaa 420 hectare water mirror framed by the Serrano landscape. Aquatic sports are held (from kayak to sail navigation), bird fishing and sighting. It is the preferred site by the local public for the getaways. Unmissable are the sunsets.

The local gastronomy It presents some challenges. Don whoright next to the Tourism Office to enter the city, it looks like a service station restaurant, but nothing is further from that.

Gourmet and abundant menus, with a wide letter And for all tastes.

The Balcarce hotel, comfortable, renewed, elegant and with its own confectionery, balcony with the terrace of its coffee to the central square, as another option for afternoon tea. A few steps, the Cyrano ice cream shopin addition to very well -off prices, it offers novel flavors. The latter are mandarin and lemon, mint and ginger. Do not miss the flan.

Of course it is from here The dessert that bears the name of the city. Hoy Jockey Gourmet Delightswhich was originally founded in the mid -1962, with the participation of the pastry chef Ángel Cerezuela by Las Delicatessen and direct disciple of the Creator of the authentic dessert Balcarcerevive the recipe with dulce de leche, chantilly cream, pionono, nuts or chestnuts in syrup, coconut and impalpable sugar. Today he is in charge of his granddaughter, Natalia.

They are also local Alfajores bearinga family venture that was born in a garage in the heart of the city, ended up becoming the brand that is projected from Balcarce to the entire country. Ideal for Souvenir. The same as Local de Snacks Gauchitas branda little thicker, with shell, with versions of Andean potatoes and olive oil, they are hand cooked.

You can include a Visit some neighboring towns.

• In San Agustín is the significant municipal delegation, built by Francisco Salamone, the train station and the Idoyaga Molina Park, a municipal nature reserve.
• There Cerquita is Barker, the headquarters of the National Party of the Raspberry and Juan Eulogio Barra where every year a grill contest is held at the Pampean roast party.

Balcarce mixes the speed with calm, the landscape with technology. Friendly people and time to enjoy. A perfect option to rest, make life outdoors and bring you different sensations.