This square is the center of all social, political and religious events in the city. It is surrounded by public buildings symbolizing the powers of citizenship: political (Municipality and Governor’s office), religious (Old Cathedral and New Cathedral) and Judicial (Provincial Court of Justice). Around the park, there are elegant houses representative of an architectural style influenced by France, which was the most notorious style in the city during the first part of the XX century.
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ABDON CALDERON PARK
DEL SAGRARIO CHURCH
This Museum is located in the antique house which belonged to Remigio Crespo Toral (1860-1939), who was a famous poet, politician, professor and rector of the university and also highly responsible for the important progress of culture of the city during that period. The plaque with the results and reference points of the First French Geodesic Mission ordered by Carlos Maria de la Condamine is kept here.
At its arrival in Cuenca in 1739, the First French Geodesic Mission used the Del Sagrario South tower (which was destroyed at the end of the XIX century and substituted by the current front), as the reference base point for the works of geometrical triangulation. A marble plaque remembers this event with the legend “Tower more famous than the Egypt Pyramids” which was written in 1804 by the Colombian scientist Francisco Jose de Caldas. It is supposed that in this point a meridian and a parallel cross, a reason for some people to believe that the use of the meter as a measuring unit was born in Cuenca.
REMIGIO CRESPO TORAL HOUSE MUSEUM This building of Renaissance style was design by the famous architect Luis Felipe Barba Donoso who got his inspiration from French buildings such as the University of Lyon to execute his work. It was built between 1923 and 1937. The “High School of the City” began operating in this building in 1937. Since then it is an icon of modern times and progress in Cuenca.
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BENIGNO MALO HIGH SCHOOL The French Alliance of Cuenca was founded in 1966 as a non-profit association that spreads the French language and culture and to enforce friendship bonds between France and Ecuador. The French Alliance of Cuenca operates in a building of interesting cubic style built in 1983 by architect Fausto Cornejo. Currently, the building has an art gallery for exhibits, an auditorium, a library and a pedagogic kitchen.
This elegant building of neoclassic style was built in 1929 to be used as the first university of the city (The University of Azuay). Its architect Francisco Espinoza Acevedo, designed it using a neoclassic French style. In the interior the beautiful ceiling is made of polychromatic tin sheets imported from France which catch the attention of visitors. Currently it is home to the Provincial Superior Court of Justice.
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PROVINCIAL COURT OF JUSTICE
SAN ALFONSO CHURCH OR PERPETUAL MERCY BASILICA
This church specially presents an example of neo-gothic style. There are 92 stained glass windows on the sidewalls, façade, towers and domes; these windows were imported from France at the end of the XIX century and were made by French artist Henry Louis Victor Gesta in Toulouse. The temple still keeps several important elements such as the tubular organ, pictures of the “Via Crucis” and “The Pieta” sculpture, all brought from France. In 1888, Miguel Leon, the Bishop of Cuenca dedicated the temple to the Virgin of the Perpetual Mercy, raising the category of the church to “Basilica”.
MAYOR’S OFFICE
T H E F R E N C H ROUTE
LA CONDAMINE STREET SAN SEBASTIAN “BIENAL” HOUSE
If you want more information about the history of France in Cuenca (First and Second French Geodesic Mission, places indicated in this booklet, anecdotes, etc.), enter: www.cuencaecuador.com.ec/larutafrancesadecuenca
BOLIVAR CLINIC “LA CASA DEL COCO” HOUSE PROVINCIAL HEADQUARTERS OF EDUCATION SOJOS HOUSE SAN LUIS SEMINARY HOUSE OF THE JERVES CALERO FAMILY
This building built between 1922 and 1926 was conceived as a mansion of neoclassic style and was home to the first bank in the region: Banco del Azuay. The French style of Renaissance inspiration was created by architect Luis Felipe Donoso Barba to fulfill the wishes of the owners to reflect greatness, luxury and economic power. Currently this is the office of the Mayor of Cuenca.
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FRENCH ALLIANCE
ABDON CALDERON PARK DEL SAGRARIO CHURCH PROVINCIAL COURT OF JUSTICE SAN ALFONSO CHURCH OR PERPETUAL MERCY BASILICA MAYOR’S OFFICE REMIGIO CRESPO TORAL HOUSE MUSEUM
#FrenchRoute
BENIGNO MALO HIGH SCHOOL FRENCH ALLIANCE
“The French Route” offers the amazing opportunity to travel along time and space and be part of the combined history of Cuenca and France. This tour is full of experiences, anecdotes, beauty and memories and explores the origins and development of a relationship that changed the life of the city forever. We invite you to learn a little bit more about the essence of a city with intangible and material patrimonial heritage of great value. Welcome!
T H E F R E N C H
T H E F R E N C H ROUTE
ROUTE
This house presents characteristic elements of Cuenca’s vernacular architecture in its patio, backyard and fruit tree garden. Its main room is richly decorated with tin sheets imported from France and its façade is decorated with friezes, columns and frames giving the house an elegant Republic atmosphere.
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“LA CASA DEL COCO” HOUSE
This building presents a three-floor facade where visitors can see the majesty and elegance of republican neoclassic architecture of the 30’s. It is very interesting to closely observe the decorations of this house. The fine details such as vegetable motives around the portholes of the façade are impressive. This house is the current home of the Provincial Headquarters of Education.
This street was named after a member of the First French Geodesic Mission, Carlos Maria de la Condamine, who according to historical data lived in this place during his visit in 1739. Nowadays the street is the main attraction point of “El Vado”, one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city. Houses in this area are mostly built following the Republican style and some of the houses still keep charming surprises for visitors like antique hat repair shops or traditional barber shops.
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LA CONDAMINE STREET
PROVINCIAL HEADQUARTERS OF EDUCATION This house, purchased by Benjamin Sojos, M.D. in 1907, had its façade refurnished in 1910. This was the first time that a construction in Cuenca used cement imported from France. This material can be observed in the shafts of the Corinthian style columns, the frames of the windows or the turrets on top of the house.
This square presents a geometric setting from the beginning of the XX century made by Octavio Cordero Palacios. This professor, playwright, lawyer and mathematician from Cuenca followed the Renascence style used by André Le Nôtre in the Versailles gardens. In August 1739, Jean Seniergues, the physician who accompanied the First French Geodesic Mission was killed during the tumult caused by bullfights on this square.
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SAN SEBASTIAN
SOJOS HOUSE
Jose Antonio Alvarado (1884-1988) is responsible for the façade and the interior decoration of this building. In 1907 he purchased the house and redesigned it using his personal comprehension of space and his business needs.
Edited by Fundación Municipal “Turismo para Cuenca” (Cuenca’s Tourism Board) Bolívar 8-44 entre Benigno Malo y Luis Cordero Telfs.. [593 7] 284 0383 · 283 2415 info@cuenca.com.ec
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“BIENAL” HOUSE
UNESCO Awards •Qhapac Ñan, Andean Road System, World Heritage Site •Traditional weaving of "Toquilla Straw Hats", Intangible Heritage of Humanity •Massif of "El Cajas", World Biosphere Reserve •Cuenca, World Cultural Heritage Site
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BOLIVAR CLINIC
Currently this house is the administrative headquarters of the “Bienal de Cuenca” Municipal Foundation, one of the most important platforms for contemporary arts in the continent. Inside this house the “Patio Alvarado” just opened becoming a space for permanent exhibition of the photographic legacy of Jose Antonio Alvarado.
This house was built by Mrs. Florencia Astudillo Valdivieso, its first owner, in 1890 and is currently used as a shopping center under the name “La Casa del Coco”, in relation to the nickname of its last owner: Ernesto Moscoso.
On the first floor one of the most traditional pharmacies of the city (Doctor Sojos) still operates. Here, traditional products such as: soda beverages, essential oils, sulfur lotions, baking soda, etc. can be found.
This building was used as the first Conciliar Seminary of Cuenca founded in 1813. Its current façade of French style was built in 1867 according to the designs of architects Mera (Quito) and Grevilliers (France). This building was recently restored by the Archdioceses of Cuenca for the functioning of their Pastoral office and other dependencies and presents magnificent inner patios with an impressive view of the domes of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
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SAN LUIS SEMINARY
This house was built in 1929 as the home of Manuel Felipe Ullauri Romero and his family. The neoclassic style also presents decorative elements from the Renascence periods of Louie XV and Louie XVI especially seen in the flower decorations on the windows.
This house was built in 1917 and belonged to Mister Dario Calero. It is one of the most valuable testimonies of a time of great economic wealth in Cuenca, during the exports peaks of husk and straw hats.
Ullauri imported fine polychromatic tin sheets for the main room and vases or fire containers for the terrace. In 1982 the Bolivar Clinic Foundation purchased the building and refurnished it to be used as a health care facility.
The house still preserves some of the elegant details of the time like the embossed tin sheet celling imported from France and the fine carved wood covered with gold leaf on top of the windows used for the decoration of its main room.
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HOUSE OF THE JERVES CALERO FAMILY