Hitler in Bariloche, Argentina
There is a rumour oft-repeated that Adolf Hitler did not die in that bunker in Berlin. As the story goes, he and Eva Braun fled to an idyllic Argentinian town after the Second World War and died there of old age. They spent their final years on a farmstead, watching the cows graze, perhaps taking occasional strolls through the forests, and remembering the good times back in Germany when Adolf was Fuhrer.
The rumour has been written about in books as fact – published with a legitimacy most people feel is undeserved. In fact, it is actually quite ludicrous and there are many historians who have proven it to be complete nonsense. When you’re in that town yourself, though, you can start to understand why the rumour may have started.
Bariloche (officially called San Carlos de Bariloche) is a gateway to Patagonia. It’s in the heart of Argentina but, standing there on the main streets, you could be mistaken for thinking you were somewhere in the Alps. The city on a lake, white-capped mountains on the horizon, chocolate shops, beer taverns and a crisp fresh taste in the air. The only thing missing are the yodellers. It’s no surprise Bariloche has been dubbed ‘Little Switzerland’.
Bariloche: Gateway to Patagonia
The mood of the town is no accident. In the 1930s, the Argentinian authorities wanted to lure more European tourists to the country. So, they established Bariloche as a hub for skiing and other mountain activities. To make it feel more comfortable for the Europeans, they changed the architecture styles to feel more like home. The wood and stone of the towns in the Alps were replicated in the town of the Andes.
The plan worked and the area blossomed as a tourism destination. It helped that many of the residents were already from Austria and Germany. The region began to feel like a little slice of Europe, tucked away in the middle of South America. It’s for this reason that many Nazis did find refuge here after the war and the rumours of Adolf and Eva began.
Even today, with tourists from all over the world, the European façade remains. Signs for the local beer have cresting snow drawn over the tips of the logo; souvenir shops sell dolls of lederhosen-clad hikers; and chocolate shops name their wares with French or German names. Scratch below the surface, though, and Bariloche is actually just as Argentinian as anywhere else in the country.
The real highlights of the town are the nearby mountains and national parks. Some of the best views of the region are from the nearby peaks. The lakes and the islands they create fan out for 360 degrees and the scenery looks like it’s straight out of a painting. Hence my stylising of the following photos. Enjoy.
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Turtle, like the name suggests, likes to take things slowly. Luckily that's one of the best ways to see the world - and that's exactly what he's doing at the moment.
This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.
9 Responses
Bariloche is one of the great names, I think – sounds so romantic and remote. With your stylised photos (and they are gorgeous), it actually looks a bit like home (Norway)
Sophie recently posted..Pets, pools and pennies at the Hemingway House, Key West
I’m definitely going to have to get to Norway soon then. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful country!
I’m sure speculation of Hitler escaping to South America is also fuelled by the fact that many top-ranking members of the Nazis did escape to the Americas with false-documents and sometimes the help of governments like the United States to stay ahead of the Soviets. I believe Dr. Mengele was one of those escaping to South America – frightening!
Bariloche is definitely a nice place to visit when you’re in Patagonia. I think it would have been a bit more fun to be there during ski season (we were late for that) – maybe a bit more exciting. But we had some great meals there and the surrounding areas are great for hiking if the weather is right.
Andrea recently posted..Visa Runs – The Mandatory Vacation
It’s definitely geared towards skiing. It would be great to go there in winter and hit the slopes – and then grab one of the delicious hot chocolates afterwards!
Ah, an added intrigue to this beatiful place. I can’t wait to get here and see it for myself. But I’d hope Hitler did not die here. Its too nice of a place to enjoy for a person with such a tainted history.
Sherry recently posted..“Sightseeing Above Kauai”
You’ve got to love a bit of intrigue…
It’s crazy to see images of the Alpine countryside in the Andes, then again we have Helen in Georgia. Helen is an Alpine village in on the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains. I guess people will do anything for tourism!
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..DESTINATIONS: Meeting the Local Wildlife On Kangaroo Island, Australia
Bariloche is sweet. I spent a week there in early January 2013. It is one hell of a place to hide. It has to be one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth. I can hardly wait to go back to that area. Next time I will head southwest into Pampa Linda.
Yeah, beautiful place. I know what you mean – if I had to flee anywhere on earth, this part of the planet would be high up on the list!