Chillán Viejo, Chile

Chillán Viejo is a city in the Ñuble Province, Biobío Region in central Chile. It covers 292 sq km (113 sq mi) and has a population of around 25,000 people (2012 estimate).

Bernardo O'Higgins Statue, Plaza de Armas, Chillán
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Estatuabernardo.jpg
Author: Quilmo 93


Chillán Viejo dates back to 1565, when the Spanish established a fort named San Ildefonso at the site. The city was initially founded in 1580 by Martin Ruiz de Gamboa. It however suffered regular attacks by the Mapuche tribe and was eventually destroyed in an attack in 1599.

Governor Francisco de Quiñónex immediately rebuilt it that same year, but in 1655 it was again destroyed, this time by the combined forces of the Mapuche and the Pehuenches. Again and again it was rebuilt and destroyed, if not by hostile natives, then by nature, in the form of earthquakes that struck the region in 1657, 1751 and 1835. After the earthquake of 1835, the city was relocated to present-day Chillán while this former site became known as Chillán Viejo or "Old Chillán".

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