It is important to note that there are two Frutillar’s. One is called Frutillar “Alto” (high) and the other is known as Frutillar “Bajo” (low). The Alto is a non-descript settlement on the higher plateau up the hill from Frutillar Bajo. The Bajo Frutillar is the small settlement beside the lake and is the place of interest, but access to here is via the Alto settlement and then down a steep hill directly to the lake.
Frutillar Bajo is located on the western shore of the Llanquihue (pronounced “yan-kee-way”) Lake, 42km north from Puerto Montt and 20km north from Puerto Varas. In 2017 it was recognised by UNESCO as part of its “Creative Cities Network” (UCCN), largely, if not entirely, because it has one of the best musical theatres in the Southern Hemisphere.
The village, like most of the settlements in the Chilean Lake Region, was founded by Germans looking for a better life at the end of the 19th Century. Officially Frutillar Bajo was founded in 1856 under an authorised (by the then Chilean President Manuel Bulnes) German colonization plan for southern Chile.
The village, in appearance, looks “very German” with its neatly cut streets and clean appearance. There is a German museum here depicting the history of the colonization as well as the “Teatro del Lago”, a World Class musical venue. Although there are musical concerts held throughout the year, there is a main classical music festival during the summer months of January and February, which often includes opera.
About half a km south from the centre of the village is a small yacht marina from where people can keep and sail small boats on the lake.
There is a plan afoot too, for a new suburban development involving a golf course, apartments, houses, shops, and sports facilities.
