This small Brazilian town maintains German customs from the 1800s, with traditional Fachwerk buildings, German street signs, and annual Pomeranian cultural festivals.
In Pomerode, a small town in southern Brazil, you'll hear German spoken on the streets and see half-timbered houses from the 1900s. Walk through the Zoo Pomerode to spot jaguars and toucans, explore life-sized dinosaur models at Vila Encantada park, or follow the Rota do Enxaimel to see German architecture from the early settlers. Located 30 kilometers from Blumenau, this town of 25,000 people continues its German traditions through bilingual schools, architecture, and daily life.
Getting to Pomerode
You can reach Pomerode from Blumenau by bus or car. Buses run every hour from 6 AM to 8 PM and take 45 minutes. By car, the drive takes 30 minutes along BR-470 and SC-416. Many travelers include Pomerode in their tour of German-influenced towns across Santa Catarina state.
German Language and Culture
Nine out of ten residents speak German, specifically the East Pomeranian dialect brought by 19th-century immigrants. Children learn both Portuguese and German at local schools, making Pomerode one of the few places in Brazil where German remains the everyday language. You'll see bilingual street signs and hear German conversations in shops and restaurants.
Rota do Enxaimel (Half-timbered Route)
More than 50 buildings line the Rota do Enxaimel, each built with exposed wooden beams and brick infill that creates geometric patterns on their facades. These houses, built in the early 1900s, now function as homes, restaurants, and shops. The route runs for 15 kilometers through town and into the countryside, with marked stops at significant buildings.
Museums and Activities
At Zoo Pomerode, southern Brazil's largest zoo, you can see over 1,400 animals including jaguars, monkeys, and local bird species. Vila Encantada park contains 20 life-sized dinosaur models and hands-on science exhibits. The Pomerano Museum displays photographs and objects from the first German settlers, while the Toy Museum exhibits playthings from the 1900s through today. Car enthusiasts will find vintage automobiles at the Automobile Museum.
Local Food and Drinks
German recipes influence the menus at Pomerode's restaurants and bakeries. Try local specialties like kassler (smoked pork chop), different types of wurst (sausages), and German-style cakes. The Schornstein Brewery makes wheat beers and pilsners using traditional German brewing methods. During the annual Pomerana festival in January, food stalls serve both traditional German dishes and Brazilian-German fusion foods.
Manufacturing and Industry
Local factories produce knitted clothing, plastic products, furniture, and mechanical equipment. These industries, along with farms in the surrounding valley, employ many residents and contribute significantly to the local economy alongside tourism.
