Outings and excursions · Paysandú
Meseta de Artigas: history and scenery above the Uruguay river
Photos: Ivelbero / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
A 37-metre monument facing the river, near the site of the Purificación camp, seat of the Federal League government.
In the department of Paysandú, on the bluffs of the Uruguay river, the Meseta de Artigas is one of the places most closely tied to the national hero. North of the plateau, José Gervasio Artigas set up the Purificación camp between 1815 and 1818, the seat of the Federal League government.
The monument
Unveiled on 25 August 1899, it stands 37 metres tall in total: a pink granite column supports a bronze bust of Artigas by sculptor Juan Azzarini, facing the river. In 2003 it was declared a National Historic Monument.
What else is there
- A museum about Artigas in the "Casona del Patriarca", a stone building.
- About 50 hectares of woodland with native and ornamental trees.
- A campsite and a small river beach with a jetty.
Tips
- It pairs well with the Guaviyú Hot Springs, in the same department.
- Museum opening hours: check before you go.
