São Lourenço can be explored through several distinct themes: the park landscape of Parque das Águas, thermal facilities, railway history, and crafts and culture. There are also leisure activities ranging from go-karting to bowling, as well as a beer tour with tasting. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus more on historical sites, wellness offerings or active entertainment.
Park, Thermal Baths and Religious Buildings
Parque das Águas in São Lourenço covers 370,000 m². Gardens, avenues and groves of trees shape its landscape. The Centro Hidroterápico, generally known as the Balneário, offers thermal baths, Scottish showers, saunas, massages and skin treatments. The park therefore brings together both landscape features and a broad range of wellness services.
The Ermida Bom Jesus do Monte is also located on the grounds of Parque das Águas. It was São Lourenço’s first sanctuary. Construction began on November 18, 1892, and was completed in 1903. These dates give the religious building a clear historical connection; its location in the park also links it to one of the city’s defining places.
Railway History and Cultural Sites
Estação Ferroviária de São Lourenço was built in 1884 and officially opened in 1925. The station houses the headquarters of Trem das Águas, the Museu Dinâmico da Maria Fumaça and the local Art’Esperança craft fair. Trem das Águas is a tourist train in São Lourenço. It is operated by ABPF’s Regional Sul de Minas and hauled by a real steam locomotive. The station, museum and train thus represent different aspects of railway history and should not be treated as one and the same.
Igreja Matriz de São Lourenço also adds its own cultural dimension. It is known for its stained-glass windows, collection of religious images, architecture and paintings. Unlike the railway sites, the focus here is on religious images and design.
Crafts, Gastronomy and Tastings
Mercado Municipal de São Lourenço was founded in 1936. As a traditional tourist site, it represents regional crafts, gastronomy and culture. Behind the market is Caminho do Artesanato, a cultural center offering crafts, courses, lectures and exhibitions. The market and cultural center offer different points of connection: the market represents the link between regional gastronomy and crafts, while Caminho do Artesanato also offers courses, lectures and exhibitions.
Cervejinha Mineira adds craft-brewed beer to these themes. It offers tours of the brewing process with tastings, as well as the “Viagem ao Mundo Cervejeiro” workshop. Those interested in how beer is made can explore this as a different option from the cultural sites and craft activities.
Leisure Activities at Center Kart
Center Kart features a go-kart track with modern, easy-to-drive karts. Children under twelve can ride mini buggies in a safe area reserved exclusively for children. This age limit applies to the mini-buggy area. Other activities at the center include paintball, an indoor climbing wall, a high ropes course with a zip line at the end, bowling with five automated lanes, and a function room.
The activities differ considerably in nature: options include go-karting, paintball, climbing, a course ending in a zip line, and bowling. These specific features can help you choose leisure activities based on your preferred focus, rather than viewing them as a single, uniform program.
Discover more destinations: Cachoeira Dourada, Matias Barbosa, Minduri, Viçosa, Barbacena, Unaí, Cruzília, Sacramento.
For the broader travel overview: Minas Gerais.
