Cantanhede
Encyclopedia
Cantanhede is a city and municipality
in the Coimbra District, in the Centro Region, Portugal. It has a population of 17,920 in the city itself, and a total population of 38,026 in the entire municipality.
subregion of the Centro Region, halfway between the cities of Coimbra
and Aveiro, in Portugal
. This small town is located just 25 km from the very popular beaches of Mira
and Tocha on the Atlantic coast.
cant, which means "great stone", and refers to the quarries
in the region. It was the original Cantonieti, mentioned in the documentation of the centuries 11th, 12th and 13th also with the spellings Cantoniedi, Cantonidi and Cantonetu. Its first historical references dating back to 1087, date on which Sisnando Davides
, governor of Coimbra, provided the village with fortification and promoted its repopulation. With a well-preserved urban area elevated to city (cidade) status by the Lei n.º 69/91, de 16 de Agosto in August 1991, and being home to a number of large and elegant houses, dating back to the 19th century, Cantanhede was granted foral
in 1514 by the king Manuel I of Portugal
.
knowledge and technology. This park is attracting biosciences companies to Cantanhede, and has the scientific background of the University of Coimbra and Aveiro University
, both associated entities of the project. Cantanhede was growing fast, and the inauguration of the C.C. Rossio (local shopping center) helped to boost the area's economy. EXPOFACIC - Feira Agrícola, Comercial e Industrial de Cantanhede, a trade fair
, agricultural show
and festival, is a major event in the region and is organized every year in July, attracting thousands of visitors to Cantanhede.
Municipalities of Portugal
In Portugal, municipality or concelho is the most stable subdivision of Portugal since the foundation of the country.Portugal has an entirely separate system of cities and towns. Cities and towns are located in municipalities, but often do not have the same boundaries, even if built-up is continuous...
in the Coimbra District, in the Centro Region, Portugal. It has a population of 17,920 in the city itself, and a total population of 38,026 in the entire municipality.
Location
Cantanhede is located in the Coimbra District, in the Baixo MondegoBaixo Mondego
Baixo Mondego is a Portuguese NUTS3 subregion that comprises the lower part of the Mondego River. It is a subregion of the Centro Region and is centered on the historical city of Coimbra...
subregion of the Centro Region, halfway between the cities of Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
and Aveiro, in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. This small town is located just 25 km from the very popular beaches of Mira
Mira, Portugal
Mira is a town in Mira Municipality in the district of Coimbra, Portugal. It is a coastal municipality known for its beaches, forests, and agriculture.-Economy:...
and Tocha on the Atlantic coast.
History
The name "Cantanhede" comes from the CelticCeltic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
cant, which means "great stone", and refers to the quarries
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
in the region. It was the original Cantonieti, mentioned in the documentation of the centuries 11th, 12th and 13th also with the spellings Cantoniedi, Cantonidi and Cantonetu. Its first historical references dating back to 1087, date on which Sisnando Davides
Sisnando Davides
Sisnando Davides was a Mozarab nobleman and military leader of the Reconquista, born in Tentúgal, near Coimbra...
, governor of Coimbra, provided the village with fortification and promoted its repopulation. With a well-preserved urban area elevated to city (cidade) status by the Lei n.º 69/91, de 16 de Agosto in August 1991, and being home to a number of large and elegant houses, dating back to the 19th century, Cantanhede was granted foral
Foral
thumb|left|200px|Foral of Castro Verde - PortugalThe word foral derives from the Portuguese word foro, ultimately from Latin forum, equivalent to Spanish fuero, Galician foro, Catalan furs and Basque foru ....
in 1514 by the king Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
.
Economy
Traditionally a major agriculture center, Cantanhede is at the heart of the Bairrada DOC which produces famed wines. The town is home to Biocant Park, a biotechnology park, aimed to create value in business initiatives by developing and applying advanced life sciencesLife sciences
The life sciences comprise the fields of science that involve the scientific study of living organisms, like plants, animals, and human beings. While biology remains the centerpiece of the life sciences, technological advances in molecular biology and biotechnology have led to a burgeoning of...
knowledge and technology. This park is attracting biosciences companies to Cantanhede, and has the scientific background of the University of Coimbra and Aveiro University
Aveiro University
University of Aveiro is a Portuguese new generation public university, with its headquarters in Aveiro since its 1973 creation. It also provides polytechnic education in three distinct additional poles....
, both associated entities of the project. Cantanhede was growing fast, and the inauguration of the C.C. Rossio (local shopping center) helped to boost the area's economy. EXPOFACIC - Feira Agrícola, Comercial e Industrial de Cantanhede, a trade fair
Trade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities...
, agricultural show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
and festival, is a major event in the region and is organized every year in July, attracting thousands of visitors to Cantanhede.
Parishes
- AnçãAnçã (Cantanhede)Ançã or Anzan is a Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Cantanhede, with 18.11km² in area and 2,579 inhabitants . Density: 142.4 inhabitants/km²....
- Bolho
- Corticeiro de Cima
- Cadima
- Camarneira
- Cantanhede
- Cordinhã
- Covões
- Febres
- Murtede
- Ourentã
- Outil
- Pocariça
- Portunhos
- São CaetanoSão Caetano (Cantanhede)São Caetano is a Portuguese parish in Cantanhede Municipality, with 17.23 square kilometers in area and 938 inhabitants . Density: 54.4 inhabitants / km ².The seat is about ten kilometers from Cantanhede...
- Sanguinheira
- Sepins
- Tocha
- VilamarVilamar (Cantanhede)Vilamar is a Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Cantanhede , with 6.20 square kilometers in area and 770 inhabitants...
Famous people
- Pedro TeixeiraPedro TeixeiraPedro Teixeira was a Portuguese explorer who became, in 1637, the first European to travel up the entire length of the Amazon River....
(born in Cantanhede, unknown date, died 1640), a Portuguese explorer commissioned by the Portuguese governor of Maranhão, in current-day Brazil, to explore the Amazon in 1637. - António Luís de MenesesAntónio Luís de MenesesAntónio Luís de Meneses, 1st Marquis of Marialva and 3rd Count of Cantanhede was a Portuguese general who fought in the Portuguese Restoration War, that ended the Iberian Union between Portugal and Spain.-Biography:...
, first Marquis of Marialva and third Count of Cantanhede (born December 13, 1603 - died in Cantanhede, May 19, 1675) was a notable Portuguese general. - Luís Filipe (born June 14, 1979 in Cantanhede), a Portuguese footballer.
- José de Carvalho Rodrigues Pereira (born on January 20, 1929 in Cantanhede - died in Lisbon, November 28, 1984) was an eminent Portuguese lawyer for Petrogal.
External links