Frutillar

Frutillar is a city, located in the western bay of Lake Llanquihue, in Patagonia, Los Lagos region, Chile.

Founded on November 23, 1856 by German settlers who arrived in the region during the government of President Manuel Montt, on the shores of Lake Llanquihue. This well-preserved town looks like an open-air museum, the main exhibit of which is German architecture. The favorite part of the city is located right on the shore of the lake and is called “Frutillar Bajo” – lower Frutillar. The upper part is an uninteresting  residential area.

Thanks to its nautical activity today it has a respected prestige in sailing in the country, alternating regattas on the lake each year with the Chiloe regatta. In 2012 the first Nicklaus PGA Club de Golf Patagonia Virgin Frutillar golf course was incorporated. Thus, the bay of Frutillar complements a diversified range of activities that include music, arts, fishing-sports house, sailing and golf.
The city of Frutillar in 2017 was recognized by UNESCO as the first Creative City in Chile and the southernmost in the world, being part of the Network of Creative Cities of Music.

Access : Coordinates: -41.116667, -73.05 / The city is located in the western bay of Lake Llanquihue , The closest airport is El Tepual, located 45 kilometers south of the city of Frutillar, in Puerto Montt. A series of bus companies link Frutillar with the capital of Santiago.

Highlights :

•  The main street is Philippi Avenue, which runs along the bay. They are distinguished by the Municipal building, the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church, the Lake Theater, the city pier, the Richter House (School of the Arts), the Bernardo Philippi School, the German Club, heritage houses and hostels. part of the first line of the lake bank in the bay of Frutillar.
•  The Lake Theater : An emblematic work of the city, it was built with high technology in European acoustics and with modern architecture. The Frutillar Musical Weeks are held at the lake theater and concerts, plays, ballet and cinema are held throughout the year. It is the southernmost international theater in the world, and rises in front of the Puntiagudo, Osorno, and Calbuco volcanoes on the banks of the Llanquihue.
•  Thanks to this festival and the Teatro del Lago- Lake Theater, the city has become the capital of music in Chile.
•  German Colonial Museum : The German Colonial Museum was created by the German community to publicize and preserve the history of Lake Llanquihue and the 19th century German immigration in this area.
•  Nautical sports : A variety of nautical sports are practiced directed by the Frutillar Nautical Association. The bay annually holds sailing regattas, among which the Chilean Navy, the return to the lake, and a series of competitions on Optimist sailboats stand out; There are three sailing schools, among which the German School of Frutillar stands out.
•  Golf : Frutillar has a golf course, Club de Golf Patagonia Virgin Frutillar designed by the famous Jack Nicklaus.
•  To the north of the city is a 33-hectare forest (Centro Forestal) with many species of pine, ideal for hiking. The southernmost palm in the world, the Chile palm (Jubaea Chilensis), is also known.

Activities : sightseeing / photo opportunities / The city offers wonderful excursions around Lake Llanquihue and Osorno Volcano.

Go next : Cities of Puerto Montt, Osorno and Puerto Varas / Another interesting town in the Lake District called Puerto Octay is located 23 km from Frutillar.