New Mexico’s most extraordinary – and beautiful – Native American site stands 3 miles northwest of Taos Plaza. An absolute must-see for anyone interested in Pueblo Indian life, history and culture, Taos Pueblo has been continuously inhabited for almost a thousand years, making it a strong contender to be the oldest still-extant community in the entire US. It’s also the only living Native American community to be designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark.
It centers on twin five-story adobe complexes, set either side of the Río Pueblo de Taos, against the stunning backdrop of the Sangre de Cristos mountains. The quintessential example of ancient Pueblo architecture, they’re thought to have been completed by around 1450 AD. Modern visitors are thus confronted by the same staggering spectacle as New Mexico’s earliest Spanish explorers, though a small and very picturesque Catholic mission church now stands nearby.
Guided walking tours of the Pueblo, led by residents, explain some of the history and provide a chance to buy fine jewelry, pottery and other arts and crafts, and sample flatbread baked in traditional beehive-shaped adobe ovens. Note that
the pueblo closes for ten weeks around Feb-Apr, and at other times for ceremonies and events; call ahead, or check their website for dates.
