Chautla Hacienda

The Chautla Hacienda was a formerly vast extension of farmland located in the San Martin Texmelucan Valley in the state of Puebla, northwest of the city of Puebla in Mexico. It was established in the 18th century, primarily producing grain. In the 19th century, it became the property of an Englishman by the name of Thomas Gillow. He passed the property to his son Eulogio Gillow, who became the first archbishop of Antequera (city of Oaxaca). Eulogio worked to modernize the hacienda, building the first hydroelectric dam in Latin America on the property. He also built the property’s signature building, an English style residence, locally called "El Castillo" (The Castle) which overlooks the dam. Today, only a small fraction of the hacienda remains, and it is run as a recreational and cultural center by an agency of the state of Puebla.

The present-day hacienda is located in the San Martin Texmelucan Valley, eight km outside the city of the same name, in the municipality of San Salvador el Verde. Located between Mexico City and Puebla, the hacienda lies within the Puebla metropolitan area. In the colonial era, the nearby highway which crosses the valley served as a market road that transported agricultural goods to the larger cities of Mexico City, Puebla and Veracruz. The area has a slightly cooler and wetter climate than Mexico City, and the property is ringed by the remains of what were large forests. Overall, the property measures about sixty hectares, thirty five of which is forest and twelve is surface water. The property includes the original manor house, a small lake formed by a dam built on the Atoyac River, and an English style residence hall on the edge of the lake.

The manor house was originally built by the Marquis of Selva Negra, the first owner of the property, but different parts of the complex date from different times. It is built at an elevation which overlooks the property, although trees block the view of the lake. The house now serves as the entrance to the hacienda and it is surrounded by a number of ash trees that are centuries old. Visitors enter a side portal into the inner courtyard. The courtyard fountain, built in 1941, is covered in Talavera plates and tiles. Opposite the fountain is a small chapel. The four flanks of the building enclosing the courtyard feature small watchtowers on the four outer corners. The entrance to the site museum is on the north side. The museum contains photographs, paintings, furniture and other items displayed among the former rooms of the house including the salon, the kitchen, the dining room and one of the bedrooms. Beside the manor house are the remains of other hacienda buildings such as horse stables. To reach the rest of the property, one exits the house into the east garden, which is one of several on the property. This garden contains a large white fountain flanked by two reflecting pools. In this garden, there are a number of paths, including one that leads to the lake and the English style residence.

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