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The first attempt to found the city of San Juan Girón was on January 15, 1631 by Francisco Mantilla de los Ríos (1597-1632), encomendero Veleño. With military experience from his expeditions against the Yariguíes and Carares; he signed before the Royal Court some capitulations that promised him to clean the banks of the Sogamoso and Lebrija rivers of raiding Indians, in exchange they would give him a license to found a city in which he could exercise the title of Governor.

Mantilla de los Ríos immediately began construction at the Zapamanga site; but the town was built within the administrative limits of the city of Pamplona that reached up to a fish market.

The Pamplona authorities presented a usurpation complaint before the Royal Court; since the settlement remains in foreign jurisdiction, belonging to the city of Vélez.

President Sancho de Girón, ordered on February 21, 1631 that the settlement of the city of San Juan Girón be suspended and Mantilla de los Ríos should be limited to fulfilling the capitulations on pacification of the Indians and other assailants of the Magdalena River. Thus, this foundation is annulled due to legal vice.

The farmhouse that was being built was demolished. When Mantilla de los Rios presented a defense plea for his rights in Santafé, he died suddenly in 1632.

His wife asked a first cousin of the deceased to continue in his company and claim the capitulated rights.

On April 28, 1635, Francisco Mantilla de los Ríos, cousin, was given the title of Second Governor.

At the beginning of 1636 he founded the population on the site of the Pujamanes on the shore of the Sogamoso River; It favored agriculture but there were inconveniences such as the acquisition of labor forces, diseases contracted by the weather and the plague of locusts that devastated the crops. Not satisfied with the site, the attorney Don Manuel Calderón presented a request for the city to be transferred to the banks of the Río de Oro. Thus, the town was taken to Macaregua on December 30, 1638, a site it occupies today.



It was erected a parish in 1639.

In 1808 it was suppressed as the Province of Girón, annexing it to the Province of Pamplona (Norte de Santander).





Girón is a municipality in the department of Santander, which is part of the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, its population is 140,531 inhabitants.

Located 9 kilometers from Bucaramanga. Founded in 1631, its gold mines made it important during the Colony, a time of a great architectural legacy, which made it a National Monument. The Museum of Religious Art stands out, with valuable paintings and ancient liturgical objects, the Cathedral of the Lord of Miracles, a pilgrimage site, and the Chapel of the Corregidor, on the outskirts.



In Girón you could find great gold exploitation that over time was running out until they were looking elsewhere until in the upper parts of the mountain ranges they could find more gold that helped their economy

One of the most outstanding activities in the region is the celebration every year of the Tobacco Fair that takes place between August 18 and 20.

History tells that in colonial times these lands were the center of production of the famous tobacco that with other products such as fique, cotton and cinchona were exported to the great countries of Europe by the Crown of Spain.

That is why every year the inhabitants of the region and the nearby villages prepare and go down to Girón to carry out and enjoy with their family and friends the different activities that are carried out.

In the activities they carry out, those who know about the subject take out the best tobacco leaves by forming curtains with the green and dry leaves of the different varieties of Tobacco, which produces a very particular smell, between sweet and sour, that visitors enjoy.

It is also possible to buy delicious sweets such as the famous cocadas and also handicrafts from different regions.





This municipality stands out for its colonial architecture respected urbanistically in the old part of the municipality where the Minor Basilica and the Chapel of the Snows are located. During Holy Week and in the celebration of the Lord of Miracles, the number of parishioners is enormous, exceeding 5,000 people.

Although Girón is a Municipality that draws attention for its beautiful colonial houses and for its variety of tourist sites to visit. Here are some of these sites to know:

1. El Humedal del Pantano: Eco-tourism site, conservation and nature reserve. It is located very close to the La Angula stream, which supplies water to the municipality of Lebrija.

2. The Girón chicken park: Safe, welcoming and with a family atmosphere, a nice park to visit and with a shadow due to the display of Moss banners.

3. Peralta Park: Preserving its original structures and materials, this park welcomes many lovers who visit it in order to make a wish at the fountain.

4. Parque las Nieves: Majestic, conservative, and dreamy with its traditional Chapel for those couples who wish to marry or for those who wish to visit the image of the Virgen de las Nieves.

5. The Main Park: It is the central square of the Municipality, where we can easily find the traditional Gitanas, the popular raspao, and even the delicious fritanga. Not without first visiting the Historic Minor Basilica of Señor de los Milagros.

6. Calicanto Bridge: Six bridges in total surround the majesty of the Main Park, built after the time of the conquest, thus joining the Main Park with the rest of the Municipality, because the Quebrada las Nieves isolated the old town from the rest of Girón.

7. La Mansión del Frayle Museum: Located in front of the Main Park of Girón, this cozy place where the Act of Independence of Colombia was signed, is one of the most important scenarios that gave life and realism to a stage in the history of our homeland. In addition to being a museum house, it is also an exquisite restaurant with typical Santanderean food.

8. Tourist Boardwalk: The tourist boardwalk has been considered for many years one of the most important emblems of Girón, there the different orchestral festivals are held when the Municipality is at fairs, we can also get artisan samples, sale of "fritanga" and the traditional "booths".

9. Señor de los Milagros Chapels: This chapel is located four kilometers from the city of SAN JUAN GIRON, in the El Corregidor path and was the first to protect the miraculous image of the Señor de Los Milagros.

10. San Roque Chapel: Humble and at the same time avant-garde, this is how this Chapel is where the image of San Roque is venerated, among its decoration you can see three beautiful paintings that the priest José María Valenzuela brought from Quito in 1844.

11. Casa de la Cultura: Music, dance, sports courses, arts and crafts courses, musical instruments and also the best artistic exhibitions such as works of art and paintings; you can enjoy all this there. Come to Calle 30 with Carrera 26 and get to know it.

12. Religious Art Museum and pastoral house: Here you will find the best crafts made by artisans of the colony, paintings from the 18th century and colonial religious elements.

13. Government House: With several reconstructions and repairs, it had been the Government House of Girón since 1631 until the fire in 1977, it was on that date that a strong campaign began to build a colonial-style Town Hall.

14. Geo Von Lengerke's House and Paths Treasury: Geo von Lengerke, the most representative of the Teutons in the German migration to the Sovereign State of Santander, took refuge in this house, and to reach it his paths make this a true expedition botany on its green meadows.

Among other beautiful places to visit in this wonderful municipality.

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