2
In 1816, the French naturalist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire during his visit to the country with the French Artistic Mission, describes the Barreiro region: "In a gloomy point of the woods, where the trees are more assembled and more full of leaves, there is a space of around 600 steps in circumference, surrounded by a support wall and completely taken by a black and compact mud. It is in the middle of such mud, in five or six spots that mineral water fountains spring…"

3
In 1890 a study on the medicinal properties of Barreiro’s waters is presented to the National Medicine Academy by Araxá council-man J. M. Caminhoá. The newspaper Gazeta de Araxá is inaugurated to divulge the pioneer crenotherapic treatment that exists there.

4
In 1912, the first Araxá health-resort is built by Empresa das Águas (Waters Company): it is a simple building, with bathrooms separated by wooden walls. In 1915, Barreiro’s mineral fountains are donated by the municipality to the state government and, in 1916, Alfredo Schaeffer carries out the first clinic analyses of its sulfurous waters.

5
In 1925 Barreiro Grande Hotel first stone is launched, with the presence of important authorities. The areas next to it, which form the Barreiro Resort, are also rent by the State and begin to go through improvements – like fountain improvements, construction of bath-houses and hotels – to develop tourism.

6
In 1934, the Barreiro area is subject to disappropriation by decree. Only in 1937 are the works re-initialized by governor Benedito Valadares. It took two more years to be concluded. In 1944, the Resort is inaugurated by President Getúlio Vargas.

7
In the following year, it is time for the Grande Hotel to open its doors. The construction, designed by Luiz Signorelli and under strong influence of Italian Architecture and Missions’ style, assembled what was more sophisticated at the time: faceted glass, Carrara marble, crystal candelabrums, and large ball rooms. The gardens’ design are Burle Marx’s. Beside the hotel, connected by a 328 feet suspended gallery, are the Araxá Thermae – where the therapeutic effects of the radioactive and sulfurous fountains are felt.

8
With all this splendor and a casino (which remained open until 1946, when gambling was prohibited in Brazil), the hotel soon became a great political event center and also a center for social meetings. All Brazilian presidents (except for Mr. Fernando Henrique Cardoso) and all Latin American Presidents until the 1970s have stayed there. The Grande Hotel has also received famous football players like Pelé, Didi, Garrincha and Zagalo, during the preparation for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

9
In 1994, the Barreiro Touristic Complex is closed for a large reform under the supervision of the Tropical Group (Rede Tropical) – that have rented it. The thermae are re-inaugurated in 1997, but the Grande Hotel only opens its doors in 2001, after a restoration process that preserved its Architecture, furniture and the charm of the 1940s. It cost around 60 million reais (US$ 24 million).

10
In 2005, the Barreiro Touristic Complex earns a five-star administration. With the expertise of Ouro Minas network, Ouro Minas Grande Hotel and Araxá Thermae are ready to receive and enchant people of all types and ages.