Former Hacienda de Santa Rosa: From Polish refuge to restored gem in León

León , Guanajuato.- After many years of restoration, the legendary Ex Hacienda de Santa Rosa, a place steeped in history where nearly 1,500 Poles found refuge during World War II, will reopen to the public with guided tours.

José Luis Palacios Blanco, tireless promoter of the projects at the former Hacienda Santa Rosa–Salesiana, announced that a guided tour of this property, steeped in architecture, memory, and tradition, will be held next Saturday, August 9th and 16th, from 8:20 to 9:30 a.m.

The site is listed as a national historic monument by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

"We will open the former Hacienda Santa Rosa–Salesiana, built in the 17th century and considered the best-preserved site in León, so that the public can experience it, the result of many years of restoration," Palacios said on social media.

After these two initial appointments, visits will continue on the third Sunday of each month, after the 8 a.m. Mass.

The tour includes the chapel, courtyards, gardens, mill, granary, historic crypts, and, of course, the museum, built with support from the León Cultural Institute, which presents the history of the site.

Palacios, a longtime AM contributor and promoter of various civic causes, announced that the former hacienda's tunnels will soon be renovated, which will be an additional attraction for visitors.

"It's a legacy for this institution, which opened its doors in 1982. You'll love this journey, from the creation of the Ciudad del Obrerito Pobre (City of the Poor Worker) civil association in 1951 to the strategies used to save so many vulnerable and orphaned children from despair," he added.

Palacios has promoted projects benefiting disadvantaged children and has written books such as "Anchored in Hope: Pilgrims with Youth," which pays tribute to more than 20,000 stories of children who have lived and studied at the former hacienda, as well as to the educators, Salesians, and benefactors who have made this miracle possible.

The former Hacienda de Santa Rosa Plan de Ayala also has burial crypts available for those interested.

“For years, I've dreamed of realizing this project of burial crypts for the remains of people close to Ciudad del Niño Don Bosco, where they could be kept safe in niches within the beautiful Hacienda Santa Rosa, at affordable prices, and with the satisfaction that the donation would be used to support the boarding schools for children in vulnerable situations. They turned out beautifully,” he commented.

“We transcend death, but memory in a niche helps us stay here,” he summed up.

There are three niche areas, with the historical precedent that crypts were built for landowners since the 19th century.

One of these areas is located in the Chapel of Mary Help of Christians, built in the 17th century, "where urns containing ashes can be housed in a peaceful and harmonious environment. A tax-deductible donation agreement is established, which contributes to the sustainability of the children interned there."

Thanks to its restoration, the former Hacienda de Santa Rosa has also become a sought-after venue for weddings, business meetings, and parties, a space steeped in history, legends, and natural beauty, just 30 minutes from León.