Museum of the Fort of San Carlos

Lencinas 319 (2 km. away from national route No. 40)
Cultural Bureau Tel. No. 02622-451234 / 451002
Open Mondays through Fridays from 7a.m. to 1p.m.
and from 5 to 9p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 10a.m. to 1p.m.

The museum comprises a large hall and a replica of the Fort of San Carlos. Exhibits include weapons of different calibers, chests, photographs of the ruins of the fort and saddles. There are also stuffed animals and period objects for everyday use. There are two cannons on exhibition in the replica of the fort. In 1770, the "Cabildo" (town hall in colonial Spanish America) of the city of Mendoza decided to build a fort on this site to protect the inhabitants of the Uco Valley from the attacks of the Indian tribes from the south who were becoming increasingly hostile due to their warfare with the Araucanian Indians. The fort was named after Carlos III (Charles III), king of Spain. In 1816 San Martín held a parley at this fort with the Pehuelche chiefs and leaders requesting their authorization to cross and attack the enemy through the mountain passes of "El Portillo" and "El Planchón". The Indian chief Ñacuñán authorized the plan devised by the Argentine hero.

San Carlos
San Carlos is located on national route No. 40 (Southern Access), 102 km. away from the city of Mendoza. It lies in the Uco Valley, a region rich in beauty, history and tradition.