Colonia Tovar

Colonia Tovar is a Venezuelan city, capital of the Tovar municipality, in the Aragua state. It was founded on April 8, 1843 by a group of German immigrants from the then Grand Duchy of Baden (later incorporated into Germany). It is characterized by maintaining the cultural imprint of its origin, which is why it is called "the Germany of the Caribbean" or "The German People of Venezuela." It is famous for its culture, its temperate climate and the friendliness of its people. It basically depends on agriculture (where temperate climate crops such as peaches, strawberries, beets, cauliflower, carrots, cabbage, chard, broccoli, lettuce, chives and potatoes stand out) and tourism. It is located 65.5 km west of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and at an altitude of almost 2000 meters above sea level. It has a very varied German cuisine, the main dishes being different types of sausages, such as sausages. Since 1990, it has shown a high rate of demographic growth, going from 3,373 to 14,161 inhabitants in 2011.

History

In 1840, during the government of General José Antonio Páez, the Ministry of Interior Relations raised the possibility of founding new towns in which agriculture and mining would be developed with the aim of bringing immigrants from the continent. European, particularly Germany.

Agustín Codazzi, as a representative of the government and at the suggestion of Alexander von Humboldt, established contact with the inhabitants of the Kaiserstuhl (in Spanish: "emperor's chair"), a mountainous wine-growing area of the Grand Duchy of Baden, who occupied a large part of the eastern bank of the Rhine River. From here, most of the settlers who would found the Colonia Tovar and settle in this territory would come.

A colonizing company was then formed made up of Agustín Codazzi, Ramón Díaz and Martín Tovar Ponte (Count of Tovar) as guarantor. The company selected the area where the colony was to be installed, taking into account the geographical and climatic similarities of the Kaiserstuhl. The selected lands located at 2200 m s. n. m. in the Coastal Mountains belonged to the nephew of the Count of Tovar, Manuel Felipe Tovar, who donated them for the installation of this colony.

On October 14, 1841, the territory was baptized as Palmar del Tuy and basic infrastructure works were carried out. Once finished, the colonizing company headed to the ancient medieval town of Endingen in the Kaiserstuhl mountain ranges to select the settlers. The contracts between the company and the immigrants were signed at the Der Pfauen inn, located a few meters from the city's entrance gate. According to the information recorded by Alexander Benitz, the most reliable source, the emigrants who boarded the ship ''Havre'' totaled 389 people: 239 men and 150 women, the vast majority of them from Kaiserstuhl, who left on the 18th. December 1842.

The immigrants left through the Rhine River, embarked in the port of Le Havre (France), on January 19, 1843, and arrived in La Guaira on March 4 of the same year aboard the French ship Clemence piloted by Captain Malverin. They had planned to disembark on the coast of Puerto Maya, north of La Victoria, but since the path previously outlined by Agustín Codazzi had not been opened, they were forced to head to Choroní to go up the alternate road (part of which forms the current Maracay-Choroní Highway); also designed by Agustín Codazzi and opened by engineer Inder Pellegrini, leaving from La Victoria to the place designated for the new population. However, they could not disembark immediately because a smallpox epidemic had been declared on board and they had to remain in quarantine in Choroní since March 13 of that same year.

On March 31, 1843, the European immigrants disembarked, went to the city of Maracay and from there to La Victoria, where they were received by the then president of Venezuela Carlos Soublette. The settlers arrived at Palmar del Tuy on April 8, 1843, 112 days after leaving Baden. That day is considered the day of the founding of Colonia Tovar, which took as its name the surname of the donor of the land.

Among the first settlers were scientists, naturalists, writers and painters, such as Karl Ferdinand Appun, Karl Hermann Karsten, Karl Moritz, Nicholas Funck, Anton Goering, Wilhelm Sievers, Augustus Fendler, Ferdinand Bellermann (a painter who had the patronage of Humboldt) and many others, many of whom are buried in the city cemetery.

Many German emigrants, including German royalty, received help during both world wars from the residents of Colonia Tovar. For this reason, at this time, Colonia Tovar became one of the most influential political centers of German immigration in Latin America, due to its transit point to all of South America from the ports of Maracaibero and Catia La Mar. In These times, the most difficult for residents of German origin and German emigration to Venezuela, which were during the Second World War and after the Second World War, the ties with the German Royal family, the Counts of Luxburg, Princes of Schonaich-Carolath and Princes of Carolath-Beuthen, who strengthened the ties of the Tovar Colony with the central government of Venezuela, so that it did not exercise any type of preventive isolation actions (as was done in Maracaibo and Caracas) against the people of German ancestry living in the colony.

Initially, Colonia Tovar was organized around coffee production. As "the colonists" prospered; Production spread to new lands and other activities, such as the cultivation of legumes, vegetables and fruits, which found a good market in the closest cities such as Caracas and La Victoria. Then the manufacture of barrels arose, taking advantage of the quality of the woods in the area.

For many years, the colony was connected to Caracas through a river. The difficulty of communications, the isolation and the environmental scenario so different from that of the Alpine mountains of Germany meant that, for quite a long time, the population remained isolated and static, with a fairly slow demographic growth, and even negative at some point, due to rural exodus.

Starting in the 1960s, when Colonia Tovar became an agricultural emporium and was declared an area of tourist interest, according to presidential decree No. 1165 of 1964, this trend began to reverse. With the development of communications and the recreational needs of Caracas, Maracay and other nearby cities booming, they gave rise to significant economic and demographic development. By then, the Hotel Selva Negra was already operating, founded in 1938 by the Breidenbach Brothers (Juan, Carlos and José).

Colonia Tovar has been, since 1989, the capital of the Tovar Municipality and is accessible by land from Caracas, which is 56 km away, via the Carayaca road in the state of La Guaira, the El Jarillo road in the State of Miranda and through La Victoria, Aragua State, 32 km. It is considered one of the richest municipalities in the country, measured by per capita income, and one with the best quality of life.

The ancient descendants of the first settlers are fully integrated into the country and have mixed with the native population. The residents speak Spanish, they have had to rescue their own knowledge of German and improve it, due to the demands of the arrival of many German tourists who are always surprised to find a typical German town in the middle of the intertropical zone.

In 1998, its telephone prefix changed when the code 033 disappeared (which was replaced by the 02 of Greater Caracas for the neighboring town of El Junquito), adopting the code 044 since then. Later, in 2001, now has the code 0244.

At the beginning of September 2017, Colonia Tovar was affected by heavy rains, causing flooding after the increase in flow in the El Molino River.

Geography

Colonia Tovar is located almost 2000 meters above sea level in the Central Coast mountain range of the Coastal mountain range. It is connected to Caracas and La Victoria by road. Its climate is temperate mountain with daily thermal amplitudes of about 10 °C, with an average of 16.8 °C, and frequent fogs, especially at dawn and in the afternoon. The data on average temperatures and monthly rainfall amounts for Colonia Tovar are as follows:

• Location: latitude 10° 25' N, length 67° 18' O, altitude, 1790 msnm

The city is located in the north of the state of Aragua. The municipality is "L" shaped, and borders to the north with the Caribbean Sea, to the northeast with the Vargas state, to the east with Caracas (Libertator Municipality), to the south it limits with the Aragua River and to the west it ends with the Santiago Mariño Municipality.

Colonia Tovar is located in a very rugged terrain, with ravines and streams. Foggy-looking mountain landscapes prevail, characteristic of the Coastal mountain range (a mountainous alignment off the Venezuelan coast of the Caribbean Sea), in which the highest altitude in the state of Aragua stands out: the Codazzi peak at 2,429 meters above sea level, located to the north. from town. The cloud forest characterizes the predominant vegetation, which changes as it descends the steps of the relief as a gallery forest and ends with savanna grasses to the south and xeric in the marine north.

The town is surrounded by houses (chalets) relatively separated into a multitude of small plots of intensive use. Highly productive and profitable agriculture (horticultural and fruit growing) is developed: flowers, strawberries, tomatoes, peaches, garlic, peaches and other temperate climate crops. There are also ceramic craft workshops, sausage factories, sweets, brewing industries, preserved foods (jams, peaches in syrup, etc.), in addition to traditional agricultural activities that translate into the commercialization of vegetables, fruits, flowers., pork and its derivatives.

Hydrography, flora and fauna

The hydrography of the Tovar municipality is divided into three large basins: that of the Caribbean Sea, formed by the rivers: San Miguel, Ocumare, Cata, Aroa and Tuy; that of the Orinoco River, formed by the Memo River and the Guárico River; and the endorheic lake of Valencia where the Aragua, Turmero, Maracay, Tapa-tapa, Tocorón and Las Minas rivers pour their waters. The Aragua River, the southern limit of Colonia Tovar, is formed by the confluence of the Gabante and Curtidor rivers, at the level of "Pie de Cerro", north of La Victoria. The Gabante River, in turn, is a tributary to the Quebrada Honda, while the Curtidor River converges with the San Carlos River and the Quebrada de Coche. All these rivers and streams originate in the high mountains that surround Colonia Tovar.

The headwaters of the Tuy River are near the town. In its first section it is a mountain river. The city is located in a river reception basin, which forms a kind of amphitheater.

The colony is located within the limits of the Pico Codazzi natural monument and near the Henri Pittier National Park. In addition to its climatic zones and its heterogeneous flora, Colonia Tovar has a great diversity of fauna, mainly bird species, which add up to a total of 578 registered species. The region has a rich endemic fauna, recognized for its biodiversity, especially migratory birds. Mammals and snakes also contribute to the diversity of this area.

At the Rancho Grande Biological Station, there is a zoological museum with the species of the area, as well as an instructive interpretation trail of the biological processes that occur in the Cloud Forest. It also has facilities and equipment for users to review the material in appropriate conditions such as magnifying glasses, water, trays and measuring instruments; as well as accessible literature.

Among the diverse flora, orchids stand out. You can see varieties of bromeliads and tree ferns. The fauna is characteristic of the cloud forest; It constitutes habitat for many species due to its condition as a climax forest. Among the most characteristic wildlife species are the golden quetzal and the emerald-flask-billed toucan, also called by residents by the name "tiataro." Among the most common primates, the howler monkeys stand out, the blue-tailed hummingbird and the swallow bluebirds are also observed. The tara butterfly and the mountain cachicamo are also abundant.

There are two access routes: the El Junquito road and the La Victoria road, the latter of notable natural beauty.

Climate

Colonia Tovar has a subhumid temperate or Chinese temperate climate with a cool summer dry season (Cwb). It is located in the Venezuelan Coastal Mountain Range at more than 1900 meters above sea level, which modifies its climate significantly, as it is located in an intertropical zone where temperatures normally exceed 25 °C.

The days are mostly cloudy, as it is almost on the edge of the highest altitude of the mountain range, which generates more atmospheric pressure and greater cloudiness in the area, with few hours of sunshine in this town, with a daytime temperature of 19 °C under the sun's rays and 17 °C when the sun does not affect due to cloud cover. While at night, the temperature usually drops to less than 10°C and, on some occasions, it usually drops to less than 5°C.

Average climate parameters of Colonia Tovar
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Average temperature (°C)	20.5	21.1	21.9	22	27.6	26.9	25.9	25.9	25.2	23.2	23.1	21.5	26.9
Average temperature (°C)	16.5	16.5	17.2	20.9	20.3	20.6	19.4	19.6	19.7	18.6	16.9	16.5	18.6
Temp. medium (°C)	12.7	12.7	12.5	13.1	13	15.7	15.4	15.4	15.3	15.1	13.7	11.8	13.9
Rains (mm)	26	18	20	34	77	145	138	135	140	144	51	32	960
Rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm)	11	8	7	10	14	19	21	20	20	19	17	15	181
Relative humidity (%)	78	76	76	79	82	83	83	84	83	83	83	80	94
Source: Temperature and Rains: https://es.climate-data.org/america-from-sur/venezuela/state-water/colonia-tovar-487530/ Rainy days: https://www.weather-atlas.com/es/venezuela/colonia-tovar-climate Relative humidity (%): http://www.inameh.gob.ve/web/PDF/ESTADISTICOS_BASICOS_TyHR_EXTREM.pdf (8 August 2019)

Economy

Due to agriculture, the settlers spread across the lands surrounding the valley, when the coffee exploitation boom began. Later, the cultivation of their legumes, fruits and vegetables got a good market in Caracas and La Victoria. Currently, on weekends and holidays, near the Church, farmers and artisans set up a market with sales stalls that resemble typical houses with red roofs, offering local products, mainly fruits, flowers, vegetables, sweets and crafts.

The coloniers produce items originating in European culture, such as peaches, tree tomatoes, passion fruit, strawberries, blackberries, figs and vegetables. Craftsmanship, in general, is represented in the manufacture of bread, charcuterie, pastries, sauces, pasta, beer, wood, chocolate, ceramics and wrought iron. Furthermore, the area is notable for the manufacture of quality wooden barrels, which are famous within and outside the region.

With the influx of tourism, since the 1960s, hotels were built in cabins with a cozy and familiar atmosphere. Also, restaurants were installed in traditional cabins, where characteristic dishes of the colonial culture are served. Tourism, coming mainly from Caracas, Valencia and Maracay, has been displacing agriculture as the main economic activity in the colony, although it still maintains its validity.

Languages and culture

La Colonia Tovar was organized, at first, as a closed community with the purpose of maintaining a "white culture". The founders intended for their cultural traditions to be maintained. Therefore, upon arrival, they built houses preserving the characteristic architecture of the Kaiserstuhl. Badisch, Baden's dialect, was the predominant language in the area; their clothing and food remained intact. In fact, for a time marriage was prohibited outside the colony, in order to guarantee "ethnic and cultural continuity"; Both practices would later be abolished by Venezuelan law.

Although the main and national language of Venezuela is Spanish, in Colonia Tovar the alemannisch: Germanic, is also widely used, being known by the name of coloniero German. Article 9 of Venezuela's constitution limits official use to Spanish and indigenous languages, but does not mention any other languages; so the language spoken in the area is "unofficial" and is currently in dizzying decline.

Colonier German in this area of Venezuela is a linguistic variant that generations have inherited after 150 years, although many phonetic and lexicological terms are no longer used in Europe. Germanic belongs, along with the Bavarian-Austrian language, to the branch called "High German" of the Germanic language family. There have been attempts to promote the language, however the achievements have not been as noticeable, such as the Brazilian German projects where the collective of southern Brazil has been integrated into public education.

The houses, buildings and shops in the city are also made in the Alpine style, giving it an unmistakable peculiar identity. The church of Saint Martin of Tours, in the center of the city, is a faithful copy of that of Endingen in Germany, from where the founders left.

In 1940, Spanish was established as the only official language of the colony and exogamous marriage became a free practice. At the beginning of the XXI century, the inhabitants of Colonia Tovar were already completely integrated into Venezuelan culture, creating an ethnic fusion unique, without this having meant abandoning their original customs. Among the traditions that are maintained, is the creation of crafts, inheritance of the first generations of them who arrived; preserving traditional techniques in making crafts in wood, ceramics and other materials. The Lutheria Academic Center also operates as an educational center that prepares its students in the technique of manufacturing, maintenance and repair of symphonic and popular instruments.

The Chilean writer Isabel Allende, who lived in exile in Venezuela, evokes Colonia Tovar in several passages of her novel Eva Luna. Another Chilean exile, Aniceto Rodríguez, promoted the Colonia Tovar meeting (July 1975), where important representatives of the democratic parties of Chile attended (Socialist Party, Christian Democracy, Radical Party, Christian Left), which were part of banned movements. by the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet at that time. This successful meeting is considered the seed of the Coalition of Parties for Democracy, which ended up winning the presidency in 1989 and marking the end of the military dictatorship in a democratic way. In 2009, representatives of the parties opposing the government of Hugo Chávez met in Colonia Tovar, and created the Democratic Unity Roundtable as an electoral platform.

Gastronomy

The gastronomy of Colonia Tovar is conditioned by its German origin. In the small popular restaurants and luncherías, the neighborhood's desserts are famous, such as strudels, gugelhupf, tartlets, churros, strawberry with cream, the traditional Kaiserschmarrn, Germknödel, apple strudel and the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte; known in Spanish as the Black Forest cake, along with the particular charcuterie and its specialties: the famous German sausages. Tovar beer, which is produced in the area, is also characteristic of the colony's gastronomy.

Typical dances and celebrations

In Colonia Tovar, the traditional German festival known as Oktoberfest is celebrated annually in October. On some occasions, groups from Germany have been invited to perform typical music. The Colonia Tovar International Chamber Music Festival is also held.

On April 8, the founding of the colony is celebrated. For this date, cultural activities are carried out in Plaza Bolívar. The celebrations include a parade of floats, in which educational institutions, dance groups and local and invited cultural associations participate. The annual election of the queen of Colonia Tovar is also held.

During the carnival, the Jokilis and Gorillas troupes take place. The Jokili is a character that has existed in Germany since 1782, a mix of jester and harlequin. His clothing consists of a red suit, with fringes on the neck, sleeves, waist and legs, on which bells can be seen. They are fitted with a three-pointed hat, white gloves and pointed shoes. In addition, they have a wooden mask, made for each Jokili in particular; a rod carved in wood, which has a knotted rope and at the other end a pig's bladder, in the shape of a balloon, which is the instrument with which they usually hit the curious who observe them during this festival.

The patron saint of all travelers, Saint Martin, is honored on November 11. In the Church, there is an image of the saint, which was brought by the founders from Baden. That day the Flowers, Fruits and Crafts Fair is also held, in which prizes are awarded for the excellence of the products produced in the municipality.

Two annual festivals are celebrated, generally between March and April, one; and the other between August and September. One of them is Cultural Heritage of the Municipality, according to the Decree of the Mayor's Office of Tovar, which has been carried out since 1992, and is known as the Colonia Tovar International Chamber Music Festival. The second is Friends of Chamber Music Colonia Tovar and has been held since 1997.

Along with the religious celebrations of Easter, the traditional German "nests" are held in Colonia Tovar, to celebrate the arrival of the Easter bunnies with their eggs. The whole family participates in making these and it is customary for children to look for the eggs hidden in the yards. On the Monday after Holy Week, the residents of La Colonia Tovar attend the Chapel of the Resurrection. There the blessing of crops and food is carried out; everyone present shares a day of camping. The Gorillas Comparsa wears a suit with a panty covered in stick beard and a mask.

Places of interest

The Museum of History and Crafts: the Museum was founded by Néstor Rojas on March 20, 1970, which offers extensive research on the history, customs and traditions of the German people. Breikanz Shopping Center: It is located in the center of Colonia Tovar, on Codazzi Street. This is a series of shops that offer crafts from Germany and typical of the region. Cutlets, cold cuts and Vienna sausages are also offered.

Pico Codazzi natural monument: Pico Codazzi reaches its maximum height of 2,429 meters above sea level in the jurisdiction of the state of Aragua, with an area of 11,850 hectares and is also shared by the states of Vargas, Miranda and the Capital District. It was declared a National Monument by presidential decree of June 5, 1991, as a tribute and recognition to the Italian geographer and cartographer, Agustín Codazzi (1793-1859). In the natural area, the Panarigua Archaeological Museum and the Panarigua Inn are located. The Tuy and Aragua rivers are born in this mountain. Cervecería Tovar: the first Venezuelan beer was made in Colonia Tovar, in 1843, when the founders arrived. Its production has been maintained since then. Its production is carried out by Cervecería Tovar C. A. and maintains the quality of the standards required by the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516.

Historic center: several buildings in the center of the city and around Plaza Bolívar constitute the historical axis of the colony. The most representative buildings are: the Church of San Martín de Tours, the Codazzi house and the Old School, all in the lower part of the town. As it is the busiest place, there are numerous restaurants, cafes, craft shops; in addition to services such as public telephones, parking and toilets. Codazzi Square: in 2001 the Italian community Veneti nel Mondo together with German descendants from Colonia Tovar unveiled a monument in tribute to its founder Agustín Codazzi with the inscription Honored Italy for its extraordinary contribution to the greatness of Venezuela.

Twinning cities

City twinning is a concept by which towns or cities from different geographical and political areas are paired to foster human contact and cultural links.

• Veliko TarnovoBulgaria (13 June 1992).
• PozuzoPeru (since 2007)