A Visit to the Panteón de Dolores in Jerez, Zacatecas

Panteón de Dolores, Jerez,

In July 2013, I visited the Mexican city of Zacatecas. While there, I took a day trip to the city of Jerez De García Salinas. Jerez is one of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos — towns highlighted by the Mexican Department of Tourism for having magical natural, cultural, or historical significance. Jerez is about fifty minutes from Zacatecas by bus, with the ticket costing around 50 pesos each way (~$4 US). During my day there, I visited the cemetery, the Panteón de Dolores.

Construction of the Panteón began at the end of the 1700s, with the first burial in 1809. The Panteón includes many elaborate, beautiful tombs carved out of the local cantera stone. Cantera is a volcanic rock, the local variety has a pinkish hue. The stone is durable, but is able to be cut and carved easily. It is ideal for the many masoluems and graves in the cemetery.

Nuestra Senora de los Dolores

The Panteón is located where Reposo street hits Dolores. It’s an easy walk from the main park, Jardin Rafael Perez. Here is a map that shows the location.

The entrance to the Panteón is next to the small chapel on site, the La Capilla de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores. The chapel is relatively simple on the outside, it was unfortunately not open when we visited.

The earliest graves are around the chapel, and they get newer as you head further back. I took a lot of photos, the ones below are the best. Clicking the images should bring up a bigger copy of the photo.