For almost three hundred years, adventurers and explorers led by their dreams of finding gold and wealth came to Lavras Novas.
Gold, which was plentiful at the time, attracted many people to this region.

The history of the place is still controversial: some people say that Lavras Novas was a maroon, perhaps because the vast majority of the natives are black. This version has not been confirmed by historicians.

Some researchers believe that some houses, caves and forests had been used as a hideout for runaway slaves. Retaining much of its original features, the village has not changed much : the colored colonial-style houses form a beautiful landscape around the church of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, in the middle of the village. The church was founded in 1762. Its construction is simple, but it calls attention to the details in soapstone on its facade. On August 16th, there’s the celebration of the Divino and Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, where folk dances, ethnic foods and rituals fill the place of colors and sounds.

The residents, despite the changes in their lifestyle because of the large number of tourists, have not changed their way of simple and quiet life. It is usual to find ladies carrying on firewood and backpacks, dogs and horses on the streets, people leaning on the windows. The village is surrounded by waterfalls. Out of the 14 found in the neighborhood, 5 have easy access and are visited by tourists very often. The most famous ones are Falcão, Castelinho and Três Pingos. The appearance of the mountainous region attracts practitioners of rappel, trekking, biking and trail. The paths, rivers and cliffs are much appreciated by athletes.

To relax, listen to birdsong and waterfalls and enjoy a lively evening with your friends or to venture through creeks and climbing walls of rock, Lavras Novas is your place.

It’s a great place to visit and return!

Carumbé offers free maps for trail, mountain bike and Jeep tours to the guests. The pilots must have only a pedometer and a place to lay down the map, which can be a pad or a roll book. This feature allows any person to make the journeys, guided only by the map, without relying on a guide or someone who knows the region.

Location

Distances:

• Belo Horizonte – 117 km / 73 mi.
• Rio de Janeiro – 515 km / 320 mi.
• São Paulo – 703 km / 437 mi.
• Brasília – 846 km / 525 mi.
• Ouro Preto – 17 km / 10 mi.
  GPS Reference : S 20º28.275`W 043º31.152`