Jauja offers tangible ways to enjoy a culturally and historically focused stay: the Iglesia Matriz stands opposite the Plaza de Armas, while the Zona Monumental includes colonial houses and notable historic buildings. The city also has a distinctive plaza design and an annual calendar of religious and patronal celebrations. When choosing accommodation in Jauja, you can plan your stay around the city’s history, architecture, or a festival date.
The history of the Iglesia Matriz
The Iglesia Matriz de Jauja was built around 1565. Before that, the city had been moved from the Inca administrative center of Hatun Xauxa, in what is now the district of Sausa, to its present location; this move took place about 30 years after its founding by Francisco Pizarro. The church’s history is therefore closely connected to the city’s original location. Architecturally, it features an Andean Baroque style with Neoclassical modifications. These modifications give it a distinctive design in the valley. The building thus brings together Jauja’s early history and various architectural influences.
Monumental Zone and historic heritage
The Instituto Nacional de Cultura recognized the Iglesia Matriz as immovable historic heritage through Jefatural Resolution No. 515 of August 11, 1989. It is included in the historic center, which was declared a Zona Monumental by National Directorate Resolution No. 906 of December 17, 2003. Under this resolution, the Zona Monumental de Jauja is listed as Cultural Heritage of the Nation. Several colonial houses remain within it; it also includes notable historic buildings and brings together the colonial past and modernity in its architecture and urban spaces. The Capilla Cristo Pobre is also included in the Zona Monumental: Jefatural Resolution 906/INC of December 12, 2003, names it as part of the Cultural Heritage of the Nation.
Plaza de Armas and routes to the sights
The Plaza de Armas offers a distinctive view of the city’s design. It was redesigned in 1921 with a regular layout, green spaces, and a central bandstand. This makes it an urban landmark alongside the churches and historic buildings. According to the tourist route information, the Iglesia Matriz is opposite the Plaza de Armas; the stated distance is 0.10 kilometers, or about a two-minute walk. For the Capilla Cristo Pobre, the tourist access table gives a distance of about 800 meters and around ten minutes on foot from the Plaza Principal de Jauja. These figures provide different route references to two sights and help put local journeys into perspective when planning your day.
Religious and patronal festivals throughout the year
The Iglesia Matriz hosts religious and patronal events every year. These include the San Sebastián patronal festival from January 18 to 20, the movable Holy Week in March or April, and Corpus Christi in June. The Señor de la Justicia festival is also celebrated in June, on the third Saturday. The patronal festivals of the Virgen del Rosario and the Virgen Chapetona take place on the first Sunday in October. During the festivities, the Plaza de Armas and the main streets of the Zona Monumental are decorated for civic and religious celebrations. If you want a festival to determine your travel dates, take its date into account when planning; Holy Week in particular falls in March or April, depending on the year.
When choosing where to stay, you can weigh different priorities: the Iglesia Matriz and the Capilla Cristo Pobre highlight architecture and heritage, while the festival calendar provides specific travel dates. The Plaza de Armas adds another historic place to explore in the cityscape.
Discover more destinations: Casacancha, San Ramón, San Martín de Pangoa, Monterrico, Satipo, Pichanaki.
Return to the main travel overview: Junín.
