Scattered through the streets above the lakefront are about thirty surviving wooden houses built by German settlers between 1860 and 1930. Most are protected as Monumentos Nacionales. They share the characteristic features of Chilote-German architecture: a steeply pitched roof, scalloped wooden shingles, a glass-enclosed front porch, and dark-stained timber walls with white trim.
The best-preserved are Casa Kuschel, Casa Yunge, Casa Maldonado, and Casa Alvarez — all within a few blocks of the plaza, all clearly marked with bronze plaques. The local tourist office sells a self-guided walking-tour map for a couple of dollars. Allow an hour.