Neuland

Centro Chaqueño para la Conservación e Investigación

Chaco Research and Conservation Center

A research center dedicated to the conservation of the peccary (known locally as taguá). You can see three different species of peccary up close. There is a guest house with dorm rooms and kitchen for visitors who want to stay for two or more days (booking is required). The center's location is ideal for nature enthusiast and those who want to venture into the Chaco. You need to bring all the supplies as the nearest store is in Filadelfia. Just to the left of the center is Fortín Toledo, a historic site from the Chaco War, and worth visiting.

Fortín Boquerón

Founded in 1928 to stop the advance of Bolivian troops, Fortín Boquerón is one of the Chaco War's most significant historic landmarks. Strategically located near fresh water reserves, the fort played a key role in the hostilities between Paraguay and Bolivia both before and during the Chaco War in 1932-35. In 1928 the fort of Boquerón was taken by Bolivia, but then taken back by Paraguay. In July 1932 Bolivia took the fort again, and in September the same year it was retaken by Paraguay in a costly and bloody siege that marked a decisive victory for Paraguay. It still took Paraguay another three years to push the Bolivians out of the Chaco, and the peace settlement was not signed until 1938. Today, it is the site of a large museum complex dedicated to the war, showcasing an extensive collection of Chaco War photos and weaponry. The premises also retain many of the original 3,800 m of defensive trenches, most about 1.5 m deep. Although they are no longer fortified with barbed wire and snipers positions, the thorny vegetation surrounding the trenches and the intense heat is enough to make you pity of the Chaco War soldiers. The tourist trail follows along the old trenches and leads to two small cemeteries for Bolivian and Paraguayan soldiers. Along the way, there are palo borracho trees whose trunks were hollowed out to create hiding places for snipers. The area along the trenches is overgrown, but at the site of the Paraguayan cemetery you will see the savannah-like cleared lands with wild grass similar to what the battlefield looked like in 1932. Presiding over the cemetery is a large, original cross. The clearing in front of the museum features an evocative statue of a Paraguayan soldier created by the famed Paraguayan artist Herman Guggiari. The site is best visited with a guide that can be hired through the tourist office in Neuland or Filadelfia. Another option is to hire a taxi for a roundtrip from either Filadelfia or Neuland.

Wed-Sun 08:00-17:00 call ahead to ensure there will be someone to open the museum·Free but tipping the museum keeper is recommended

Fortín Toledo

A historic place from the Chaco War (1932-35) where one of the major battles of the conflict took place between 26 February and 10 March 1933. Two cemeteries, one Paraguayan and one Bolivian, honor the over 1000 soldiers from both sides who died in combat during the battle.

Freundschaft Park

friendship park

This park has the peculiarity that the terrain has been left in a natural state in order for visitors to have an idea of what the area looked like when the first settlers arrived.

Iglesia Mennonita de Neuland

city church

Built in 1955 with the contribution of Mennonites from North America. The fact is that every member of the colony had to collaborate in the construction of the church with 17 days of work under the label of community service. After 20 months of work the church was finished. It's open for visits arranged previously through the tourist office.

Museo Histórico

city museum

Of the three Mennonite city museums of the Chaco, the one of Neuland gives the best idea of how life was for the early settlers. Built as the school, the museum has been set up to resemble a typical Mennonite dwelling with a main house, a covered barn for farming equipment, and a separate building for the kitchen. There are various items used by the settlers upon their arrival including butter churns, sausage fillers, and many handmade objects that are a testament to their make it work attitude. Particularly interesting are the large egg incubators used to transport eggs during the week-long journey to the market in Asunción and a strange machine created to make ceramic bricks and tiles.

The museum is normally closed and visits must be arranged previously at the tourist office·Free

Parque Chaco Boreal

city park

The small, well maintained city park is the site of three commemorative statues. The first statue is of a Mennonite woman working the land and is an homage to the early women settlers who came to Paraguay seeking a new future. The second and third statues are memorials for the 25th and 50th anniversary of the colony's founding. On the far end of the plaza is a well-digging machine donated to the colony by Dutch Mennonites in 1967. This machine was used to dig more than 1000 wells in the area, a key improvement for the colonists who were digging the wells with their own hands by that time.

Parque Serenata

Well preserved city park with lots of trees.