A formação e a vocação de São Luiz do Purunã sempre estiveram ligadas ao cavalo. Seja pela herança dos tropeiros ou pelas tradições das famílias que formaram a região.

O pioneirismo no desenvolvimento do turismo rural do distrito se deve a presença da cultura gaúcha, graças ao tradicional Rodeio de São Luiz do Purunã, um evento familiar que reunia seus visitantes em provas de tiro de laço, bailes sociais e acampamentos campeiros, evento este que permanece na memória de muitos que conheceram a região atraídos por ele.

Este local diferenciado, que fica entre o cruzamento da BR-277 e BR-376, entre Curitiba e Ponta Grossa que concentra todo o fluxo do anel viário que converge para a capital do Estado, mantem suas tradições quanto ao amor pelo cavalo que pode ser observado no desenvolvimento econômico local, concentrando várias Cabanhas e Haras que promovem a vocação turística em torno deste simbólico animal.

Find out more about the milestones of the Balsa Nova region

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1861

In this year, a modern ferry with safe and stable cables started to operate. Soon it came to be called “balsa nova” (new ferry), giving the town its name which, at that time, was still a district of Campo Largo.

1876

The first news about the town date back to this time, when the city was known as Rodeio, where troops and rangers refueled before they continued their journeys.

1880

In this period Porto do Roque was built. It had a very simple ferry, but it provided the residents of the isolated village with an alternative to crossing the river in small canoes.

1884

When Dom Pedro II finished building the bridge between Cachoeira do Rio Iguaçu and Caiganga, located in the town of Porto Amazonas, the old ferry gave way to new means of transportation.

1886

To facilitate the transportation of the gradually growing population, a bigger ferry started operating, bringing even more development to the region.

1920

In the same year in which the population celebrated its economic growth with its new district registry, a great flood tore the steel cables causing the famous “balsa nova” to go downstream.

1925

With the development propelled by the sawmills and the ever growing busy streets due to its proximity to the railroad, Balsa Nova was finally separated from Campo Largo and promoted to independence by state law 4338 from January 25th, 1961.