Pontão: Tropeiros, Local History and Gaucho Culture

Pontão is shaped by a history that ranges from the tropeiros to gaucho traditions. Its beginnings are reflected in the story of the first houses and their role as a stopping point; Praça Pádua de Lima, next to Igreja Santo Antão, provides a central local landmark. Other historical and landscape-related themes can be found throughout the municipality of Pontão.

From the Tropeiros to the Settlement of Pontão

At the beginning of the 19th century, the settlement of Pontão began to take shape at the tip of Fazenda Sarandy. Its first six or seven houses were an important stopping point for tropeiros and travelers. The place name also points to this history: Pontão comes from “Ponta de Mato,” a distinctive geographical landmark for tropeiros traveling through Rio Grande do Sul in the 18th and 19th centuries. The history of the name and the settlement’s beginnings belong to different periods: tropeiros were already traveling through Rio Grande do Sul in the 18th century, while Pontão’s settlement only began to take shape in the early 19th century.

The Square and Church in the Town Center

In the municipal seat of Pontão is Praça Pádua de Lima, the central square next to Igreja Santo Antão. Another link to local history is the donation made on June 16, 1922: Júlio de Maílhos, Luiz Mourino, and José Antônio Lápido donated 156,250 m² from the former Fazenda Sarandy for the construction of a church and for communal use in the settlement from which Pontão emerged. Thus, alongside the story of the early way station, there were plans for land to be used communally and for a church.

Gaucho Traditions and Cultural Events

CTG Recanto dos Tropeiros was founded as an association in 1995 to promote gaucho traditions and sociocultural activities in the municipality of Pontão. During Semana Farroupilha, from September 13 to 20, 2019, gaucho food and cultural activities were offered there. Participants included local schools, the CTG’s Envernada, and guests.

The 1º Festival de Cultura de Pontão and the 1ª Mostra Estadual de Curtas Gaúchos do MovCEU, held on November 21 and 22, featured artistic performances, a handicrafts market, exhibitions, and film screenings. Together with the activities around Semana Farroupilha, these events showcase different aspects of cultural life: gaucho traditions as well as handicrafts and short films.

Nature and History in the Municipality of Pontão

Parque Natural Municipal de Sagrisa covers 402.2 hectares and was established in November 1999 by Municipal Law No. 232. The protected area in the municipality of Pontão is home to representative animal and plant species of the Araucaria Forest biome. It is not open to public visitation; the Universidade de Passo Fundo occasionally conducts expeditions there.

Comunidade Bugre Morto is also located in the municipality of Pontão. It is considered one of the historical testimonies to the founding of Pontão and preserves the memory of tropeirismo and the history of the region associated with the passage of the bandeirantes. This connection broadens the view from the history of the settlement to historical memory across the municipality.

Jantar do Peixe is a traditional festival in the municipality of Pontão. It began in 1999 and reached its 23rd edition after more than two decades; it has been described as the main celebratory event of Semana do Município. If you are planning to travel for the festival, check the dates before setting out.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

If you are looking for a vacation rental in Pontão, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on: the beginnings of the settlement and central local landmarks, gaucho culture, or historical and festive themes across the wider municipality of Pontão. This way, you can plan your trip around the topics that interest you most and distinguish between places in the municipal seat and those elsewhere in the municipality.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Picada Café, Dois Irmãos, Eldorado do Sul, Cidreira, Ametista do Sul, Ijuí, Veranópolis, Montenegro.

For the broader travel overview: Rio Grande Do Sul.