Parque Bolivar is Sucre's largest and probably most beautiful park. Home to Sucre's Supreme Court, its Parisian flair, picnic facilities and musical fountain attract young and old to its green oasis.
If you are looking for relaxation in green surroundings in the White City of Bolivia, you will inevitably end up in Parque Bolivar. The city's largest and most beautiful park is one of our top 10 attractions in Sucre. Here, families find idyllic picnic areas on wide lawns, lovers find romantic hideaways under ancient trees and athletes find plenty of space for jogging and cycling on tree-lined boulevards.
Parque Bolivar is 4 blocks from Plaza 25 de Mayo and stretches from the snow-white Government Palace to Estacion Aniceto Arce, once one of the busiest railway stations in Latin America. It was created as the palace park of the Glorieta Palace.
Places of interest in Parque Bolivar
The well-maintained Parque Bolivar is not only Sucre's first address for rest and relaxation, but also has a few surprises worth seeing along its wide avenues.
On weekends, the place gets busy and street vendors mingle with joggers and walkers. You can buy drinks, hot and cold snacks, ice cream, candyfloss, handicrafts and souvenirs at ridiculously low prices. Picnic benches and children's playgrounds complete the Bolivar Park's extensive leisure facilities.
Supreme Court
The neoclassical building directly on Parque Bolivar has housed the Supreme Court since 25 May 1945. Before that, it was a monastery of the Dominican Order. Together with the Casa de la Libertad, the snow-white building is probably the most historic place in the city.
The Supreme Court of Justice of Bolivia, the Corte Suprema de Justicia, was founded on 16 July 1827 by the first president of Bolivia, Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre, the general after whom the city is named. At that time, the independent state of Bolivia was created from the Spanish-ruled Real Audiencia of Charcas.
Bolivia 's judiciary is the reason why one of the country's most beautiful cities can still call itself the capital, even though the state government, including the executive and legislative branches, has long since moved to La Paz.
Visit to the Supreme Court in Sucre
In the course of guided tours, the Sucre Justice Building can also be visited from the inside. In the entrance hall, a statue by the important sculptor Hugo Barrenechea commemorates the famous jurist Don Pantaleón Dalence. The two-time president of the Supreme Court is also considered the "father of Bolivian justice".
In addition to the hearing room, the Hall of Honour on the ground floor is also worth seeing. Here, among other famous politicians, South America's most famous freedom fighter Simon Bolivar and his generals José Antonio de Sucre and Andrés de Santa Cruz can be seen in three large paintings on the back wall.
On the second floor, the elegant Hall of Mirrors with a dozen gold-framed mirrors impresses tourists and delegations from all over the world. The beautiful stained glass windows were designed by Melchor de Pesoa as symbols of justice.
Also on the second floor is the Central Library of the Supreme Court, opened in 1945 by Dr Edgar Oblitas Fernández, whose documentary treasures are among the most historically valuable bibliographic collections in Bolivia.
Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe in Sucre
The Eiffel Tower in Sucre, which opened on 25 May 1909, does not look exactly like its famous twin in Paris, but it still deserves its name because it was also designed by Gustav Eiffel. Not only that, the two-storey tower in the middle of Bolivar Park is even made of the material that was left over from the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
First used as a weather station, the Eiffel Tower was moved to its present location in Parque Bolivar in 1925, for the 100th anniversary of the independent state of Bolivia. Today it is only a tourist attraction that can be climbed via an iron spiral staircase and offers a beautiful panoramic view of the park.
A duplicate of the Paris Arc de Triomphe and a statue of freedom fighter Simon Bolivar and Bolivia's former president Aniceto Arce can also be found in Parque Bolivar.
Fuente del Bicentenario
The 200-year fountain in the south of the park was donated to commemorate the 1809 uprising by the Fancesa cement company, which also discovered the famous dinosaur tracks near Sucre. The fountain is especially worth a visit on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Then it becomes a musical fountain with a show of lights and national and international songs.
La Piscina del Parque Simon Bolivar
The 50-metre public pool in Parque Bolivar is also suitable for sports swimmers and is frequently used by swimming schools. With a sauna and snack bar, it is a popular destination for families and amateur swimmers on hot days.
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