Santa Bárbara

Santa Bárbara is where the Spanish story of Chihuahua begins. Founded in 1567 after silver was discovered in the surrounding hills, it is the oldest mining town in the state, and within a few decades it had grown from a handful of settlers to several thousand people. It was the springboard for later expeditions north, long before Parral or the city of Chihuahua existed.

The parish church of Santa Bárbara, first built by the Franciscans around 1571, is counted among the oldest churches in Chihuahua and anchors the town center. Nearby, the community mining museum fills four rooms with tools, documents, minerals and fossils, along with objects from the Rarámuri and Tepehuán peoples.

Mining still shapes the town, and the old railway station, built in the late 19th or early 20th century on a branch of the line that once linked Jiménez and Parral, recalls the boom years. For the best view, climb to the hilltop lookout with its statue of Christ the King, then come down for gorditas and fresh bread in the center.