Museo Histórico Dr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
The 1770–1780 colonial house of the Francia family, turned into a free museum in 1968, next to the church.
What it is
The museum is housed in a colonial stone and adobe house with thick walls, three main rooms, two adjoining ones and a central gallery opening to a large courtyard. It is in the centre of Yaguarón, on Route 1, near the church, and admission is free. The collection includes portraits of independence figures, European furniture (console, chest of drawers, armchair), a French clock with mother-of-pearl inlay, 17th- and 18th-century religious objects, indigenous ceramics and a burial urn, plus mannequins showing stages in Dr. Francia's life and original manuscripts signed by Governor Joaquín Alós y Brú in 1796.
What to see and do
- The colonial stone and adobe architecture
- The French clock with mother-of-pearl inlay
- Manuscripts signed by Alós y Brú (1796)
- Indigenous ceramics and a burial urn
Did you know…?
It is the house of the father of the famous Dr. Francia, who ruled the country from 1814 to 1840.
The mannequins recreate stages of Dr. Francia's life.
History
The house was built between 1770 and 1780 by Captain José Engracia García de Francia, a tobacco administrator appointed by the Spanish Crown and father of Dr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. It opened as a history museum on 17 May 1968, run by the National Commission of the House of Independence, and passed to the Ministry of Education and Culture in 1984.
Tips
- Combine it with San Buenaventura church, a few steps away.
- Admission is free, but days and hours may vary: check before you go.
Check opening hours before you go.
Best time: Weekday mornings.
Activities
Festivals and events here
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 4 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.