LA CUMBRECITA ...​

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…is a small village, founded in 1934 by German immigrants at the foot of the High Mountains (Sierras Grandes) of the Province of Córdoba, in Argentina. The rather arid mountains with little native vegetation but crossed by crystal clear rivers and brooks, which now and then formed pools with absolutely transparent water, led the newcomers to believe that, if they planted pine-, birch- and oaktrees, they would be able to recreate the Bavarian landscape they so deeply missed.  They wanted to found a village similar to those of the south of Germany.  To begin with they had to build a 45 kilometres long access road and then, the touristic village itself. For this enormous task the participation of the people who already resided in the area and who had till then raised cattle, was essential. More German and then Swiss, Austrian, Belgian, Italian and Spanish immigrants followed the first German newcomers, as well as Argentinians who already lived in Argentina for several generations. Little by little private homes, some hotels and caffées, a few shops and a primary school were built. And bit by bit, the trees which the pioneers had planted, grew bigger. As time went by La Cumbrecita became the thriving, by thick woods of pine-, birch and oaktrees surrounded  tourist destination it is today, also being the First Pedestrian Village of Argentina, which moreover is a Nature Reserve that tends to comply with ecological rules in order to safeguard the environment for their people and future generations.

As for me, my destiny wanted that my grandparents visited La Cumbrecita regularly from 1940 on. I therefore grew up in a very close relationship to the people of this village and saw it grow. Since I was a little girl I nourished the dream to someday live permanently in this heavenly place and be part of this pioneering and courageous group of persons. Although I lived most of my childhood and youth in Buenos Aires, Switzerland, Germany and France, my place in the world still was La Cumbrecita. My dream came true some thirty years ago, when I moved to this lovely place with my husband and my two daughters. My drawings and watercolours of some of the pioneers and its marvelous landscapes are a tribute to these fantastic people and an expression of my delight for having the privilege to live in this paradise.