Pirenopolis is the primary center of historical tourism in the Brasilia region. It is situated at the foot of the Pireneus mountains with many waterfalls, fazenda inns, small rivers and exquisite natural landscapes. Together with Corumba it forms a historical complex or rare beauty.

Created in 1731 as Meia Ponte by prospectors who discovered gold at the Rio das Almas, it was later re-named as Vila de Nossa senhora do Rosaria de Meia Ponte and was eventually renamed yet again as Pirenopolis in reference to the Pyrenees mountains of Europe.

Pirenopolis competed with the capital of Goias, Vila Boa, as the principal commercial and cultural center of the region. It was located in a strategic position between other mining areas such as Trairas, Sao Jose de Tocantins, Aguas Quentes, and Santa Rita.

The first newspaper in the province of Goias, the Matutina Meiapontense, was published in 1830 by Joaquim Alves de Oloveira.