Trojes of Michoacan

Trojes of Michoacán – the icon of Michoacán traditional architecture – are a sample of the living culture of Michoacán and a benchmark of the Purépecha culture.  They are the traditional dwellings of the Purépecha indigenous.  They are found principally in the Purépecha plateau communities.

Troje of Michoacán: Michoacán Traditional Architecture

Our guests at Hotel Mansión Iturbe appreciate the landscapes and architecture when they visit places close to Pátzcuaro. Trojes leap into sight when we visit the wooded areas as we approach the Purépecha plateau.

If you visit the Paricutín volcano, you'll spot beautiful Michoacán trojes along the way. Some of them are more than 200 years old.  They share architectural techniques that have survived through the years.

In communities such as Angahuan, Paracho, Sevina, Pichátaro, or Zacán, you can also find these beautiful buildings, many of them with beautiful hand carved wood columns.

Trojes of Michocán in Ihuatzio

Trojes in Michoacán continue with traditional architecture using local materials. They are built with the most rudimentary materials, tools, and procedures.  Pine and oak are typically the preferred wood used in the construction.

The troje is easily identified:  As mentioned above, it is a wooden construction with a pyramid-shaped shingle roof. It is typically raised off the ground.  Its dimensions depend on the place and the trees that are used.  Another peculiarity of the trojes is that they do not use nails; rather, wooden blocks are used to join the wooden planks.

Another characteristic is that they can be disassembled, moved to different places, and reassembled. In Pátzcuaro, you can see examples of the troje at the Folk Art Museum, the Casa de los Once Patios (both downtown), and the new Museum of the Route of Don Vasco (near the railroad tracks across the street from Don Chucho).

Troje of Michoacan at the Folk Art Museum in Patzcuaro

The functional structure of the troje reflects the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the communities Purépechas, consists of three areas:

·        The covered façade is a space with two primary functions.  a place to hang plants    and herbs to dry or cure in the air, and a place to receive guests.

·        The quarters are obviously the private space for the family; there typically are no interior walls, and the surrounding walls have religious images and family portraits, creating a small family altar.  People sleep on straw mats.

Troje of Michoacan: an example of the quarters at the Museum of the Don Vasco's Route in Patzcuaro

·        The loft is the warehouse, where harvested corn and other basic grains are stored.

On your next visit to Pátzcuaro, we encourage you to take a tour of Don Vasco's Route, where you will find places that still retain this type of construction.

Troje of Michoacan at the Museum of Don Vasco Route in Patzcuaro

*Text and pictures property of Hotel Mansión Iturbe.

We invite you to check more post in our blog, you will find information about Pátzcuaro and its surroundings, that we hope will be helpful for your next trip to our colonial town in Mexico.

Here are some post that we suggest you:

Lake Patzcuaro

Jaracuaro – Birthplace of the Dance of the Little Old Men

Traditional Purepechan Music

Hotel Mansion Iturbe
Portal Morelos 59
Plaza Vasco de Quiroga
61600 Patzcuaro, Michoacan
México

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