Fray Bentos

The town of Fray Bentos has historically been a very important center of meat and meat extract production, as reflected in the world heritage listed plants located here.

Orientation

The bus terminal, lodging, and most of the stuff in Fray Bentos is located in the downtown area, which faces the Uruguay River. As in other riverside Uruguayan towns, there is a waterfront path (rambla or costanera). But the most famous tourist attraction is in the World Heritage–listed Anglo Neighborhood (Barrio Anglo), located on the river a kilometer or two west of downtown.

Buses arrive at the at the corner of Juan Manuel Blanes and 18 de Julio. There are about 12 daily buses from Montevideo, the ride taking 4-7 hours depending on the route. Less frequent buses are also available from other Uruguayan cities such as Colonia and Salto. The bus terminal has a tourist office, a convenience store, a cafe, and ATMs.
As this is the southernmost road bridge between Uruguay and Argentina, you'll likely pass near the city if you travel between these two countries overland. The city is less than 50 km from Gualeguaychú in Argentina.

Within the downtown area, it's easy to walk around. It's possible to walk to the Anglo Neighborhood as well, though it takes about a half hour. Driving or biking is faster. To get to the Anglo Neighbrhood, just head west on Brasil or the rambla (waterfront path).

Anglo Neighborhood

The Anglo Neighborhood (Barrio Anglo) is the historic district including the industrial landscape that was declared a World Heritage Site in 2015. The star attraction is the museum, but it's worth wandering around the neighborhood a bit, especially the large former meat-packing plant.

• Museo de la Revolución Industrial

  phone: +598 4562 2918
  address: Rambla Andres Montaño
  The UNESCO World Heritage listing "Fray Bentos Cultural Industrial Landscape" comprises the premises of the former Liebig's Extract of Meat Company, founded in 1863. From 1899 onwards the Anglo Meat Packing Plant functioned here. In its heyday it was one of the largest industrial plants in all of South America and attracted many of the region's European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Closed in 1979, the area now includes this extensive museum of the plant's history. The displays are mostly in Spanish, but a few are in English.

• Barrio ObreroThe area east of the industrial complex is where the workers lived. Together with the industrial complex itself, it formed a particularly large company town.

• Casa GrandeHouse built starting in 1868. Inhabited by Liebig's managers when the plant was operating.

• Zona de RomeríasA nature area overlooking the river that is also of historic value. Celebrations of the end of the sugar harvest were once held here. Tent camps were set up, and people of all classes of society would participate in the festivities, including from neighboring cities. The space is now available for public use.

• Puerto Anglo

  address: Ruta Panorámica
  The company's old port (or what's left of it). Originally there were two docks used by the Anglo company, but they were joined into one. Later damaged by a fire and a flood, it was never fully repaired and is now a crumbling fragment of the former structure. It has two old rusted cranes and is located pretty close to the museum.

• ANGLO meat processing plant in actionPhoto exhibition along a walkway in the industrial plant, with interesting black-and-white photos of the plant in its heyday.

Downtown

The downtown area (centro) has the feel of a typical Uruguayan city. Like other department capitals, it has its share of attractions worth seeing, but none are as impressive as the industrial plant in the Anglo neighborhood. Some things downtown were paid for by Liebig's, the company that owned the meat packing plant.

• Museo Solari

  phone: +598 4562 1057
  address: Treinta y Tres Orientales 1879
  Art museum, mostly featuring the work of the Uruguayan painter Luis Alberto Solari, who was born in Fray Bentos. His signature theme is figures with human-looking bodies but animal heads or masks. In addition to a substantial collection of his work, the museum has two rooms of paintings by other Uruguayan artists.

• Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Pilar

  address: 25 de Mayo
  A church, financed by Liebig's, that includes a clock imported from France.

• Plaza Constitución

  address: 15 de Mayo and 18 de Julio
  Beautiful plaza with a gazebo at its center. The gazebo, unique in Uruguay and originally built in England, was financed by Liebig's.

• Teatro de VeranoAn amphitheater by the water, surrounded by a park. Sometimes there'll be some kind of community event going on, or a performance. Even when there isn't, it's a nice place to relax and drink mate.

• Teatro Young

  address: Zorrilla de San Martín and 25 de Mayo

Because this is a border town, some places will accept Argentinian pesos and even US dollars.

• El Inmigrante

  phone: +598 4562 0774
  address: 18 de Julio 1118
  Typical Uruguayan food: pizza, pasta, milanesas, etc.

• Hotel Colonial

  phone: +598 4562 2260
  address: 25 de Mayo 3295
  Budget option with fast wifi and a nice, friendly lobby/common area. Private or shared bathrooms available. Breakfast and air conditioning cost extra.

• Gran Hotel Fray Bentos

  phone: +598 4562-0566
  address: Paraguay 3272
  63-room hotel near the river.

• Plaza Hotel

  phone: +598 4562-2363, +598 4562-3815
  address: 18 de Julio and 25 de Mayo

• Gualeguaychú – across the bridge in Argentina
• Colonia – home to Uruguay's other World Heritage site, an old colonial city founded by the Portuguese