Puerto Montt is considered the capital of the nation’s Northern Patagonia province. The city was founded in 1853 after government-sponsored immigration brought Germans here to populate and develop the remote region. By 1912, a train linked Puerto Montt to Santiago, opening up trade and transport with larger cities. Beyond this cultural center, Chile’s second-largest lake, Llanquihue Lake, is watched over by the snowcapped volcanoes Osorno and Calbuco. On the lake’s shores, villages boast endless delights, magnificent gardens and charming architecture from Old Europe.