With 546,000 inhabitants, excluding the urban area, Albuquerque is the most populous city in New Mexico, and it is also the largest. It was named after the Duke of Alburquerque, Viceroy of New Spain from 1702 to 1710, when it was founded in 1706 by Governor Cuerdo y Valdez. The first "r" in the name gradually disappeared in the 19th century.The original settlement was built on the traditional plan of Spanish villages: a central plaza surrounded by administrative buildings, houses and a church (San Felipe de Neri - 2005 North Plaza Street NW). This central plaza has been preserved and is today the commercial, historical and cultural center of the city, called Old Town Albuquerque, or simply Old Town. However, it is only a small part of the modern city and its many neighborhoods. It is still a good place to spend your evenings in the city with its warm atmosphere. Albuquerque and the surrounding area have been the subject of several landmark events. The first atomic bomb test took place 130 miles from here on July 16, 1945, 21 days before Hiroshima. It was in Albuquerque, on April 4, 1975, that the partnership of young Bill Gates and Paul Allen would give birth to the Microsoft empire. Albuquerque has also become the darling of major film productions. This is evidenced by the countless films shot at Albuquerque Studios. On the television side, fans of the series Breaking Bad (2008-2013) will remember that part of the series was filmed here.Finally, the city will interest visitors of Route 66, mainly through Central Avenue, 17 miles long in its part located between exits 167 and 149 of I-40.As far as museums are concerned, the city has four fairly well-known ones: the Albuquerque Museum, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. In addition to this last museum, those interested in Native American history can also visit the Petroglyph National Monument, a little way northwest of downtown.Finally, it should be noted that every year in April, the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow takes place, a festivity that attracts more than 3,000 dancers and singers from 500 Native American tribes; and that in October, the city hosts one of the largest balloon gatherings in the world, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. A magical event! If you have some time to spare, you should know that balloon flights are also organized throughout the year. The one approaching the Sandia Mountains (summit accessible by vehicle via Sandia Park or by cable car from Albuquerque), east of the city, is really magnificent.

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Skyline d'Albuquerque et les montagnes de Sandia en arrière-plan. Davel5957 - iStockphoto
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