Mangualde
Encyclopedia
Mangualde is a municipality in the subregion of Dão-Lafões
(historical Beira Interior), central region of Portugal, with a total area of 219.25 km² and a total population of 19,879 inhabitants (2011).
's warriors, transhumance
shepards, Romans, Moors and Christian conquerors, including soldiers from Castile or France, or even pilgrims. Mangualde was an important outpost in the textile trade from Covilhã, Seia and Gouveia. Its location, on the frontier with the Serra da Estrela and marginalized by its geography to north, was nonetheless a channel of pre-historic cultures associated with the dolmen
s that are found through the region. The mount of Nossa Senhora do Castelo, is one such example of the pre-Romanic castros
that were used by the early settlers, then reappropriated by the Roman soldiers as forts.
The Romans, attracted by the riches of the Iberian Peninsula (primarily minerals), began to progressively occupy the region until the 5th century, when barbarians invaded the peninsula. Romanization of these lands resulted in a diffusion and assimilation of cultural structures, political hierarchies, social institutions, the economy and religious services. Mangualde was one of the principal access-ways in Lusitânia, connecting Emerita Augusta (Mérida) to Bracara Augusta (Braga). Along the roadway, millennium or road markers were discovered in Abrunhosa-a-Velha, noting the repairs completed to the road under emperors Hadrian
and Numerian
. Similarly, a second via crossed the Alcafache bridge (a Roman-built structure) towards Espinho, while another crossed the rivers from the north.
After the barbarian invasions, the region was also taken by Muslim forces, who occupied the area of Nossa Senhora do Castelo. This place became known by the military governor, Zurara, and the fort constructed on the site referred to asCastelo de Zurara (or also Castelo de Azurara), overtime becoming transliterated in ancient name of the municipality: Azurara da Beira. In 1058, the medieval castle was conquered from the Moors, by the forces of Ferdinand I of León and Castile. By 1102, Count Henrique and Countess Theresa, before the independence of Portugal, issued a foral
to the lands of Zurara, between the Dão and Mondego Rivers. It was later confirmed by Afonso II
, when the monarch issued his ordinances in February 1217, and by King Manuel
in 1514, during his reforms. When Christian forces finally took the fortress, they discovered a privileged lookout that provided line-of-sight for thousands of miles.
During the Middle Ages, the town of Mangualde grew from two distinct poles: the first was designated Cabo da Vila and the other Rossio.
With time, even the population of Rossio began to develop into another distinct neighborhood. Around this time (the middle of the 17th century) the new space was nothing more then some modest dwellings occupied by locals.
After the 17th century, with the creation of the Misericórdia by Philip II
, the institution of "outside" judges by King John IV
(1655), Mangualde experienced a period of great expansion.
In the 19th century, residential growth was significant, helped on by the construction of a new highway towards Guarda, which contributed to this development. Overtime the two original poles merged (in the 20th century), and Rossio took on a greater role: many of the social and economic functions of Mangualde concentrated in Rossio, including public services, banking, commercial shops and cafes.
On 3 July 1986, the Portuguese Assembly ratified the elevation of the town to the category of city.
Along the valleys there are many fertile alluvial lands, of which, the more fertile parcels are located in the central part of the municipality, around the civil parishes of Mangualde, Fornos de Maceira Dão, Espinho and Alcafache.
Geomorphologically, Mangualde is part of the Maciço Antigo (Old Massif), dating to the Paleozoic
. It was affected by a period of prolonged erosion, that was later rejuvenated by upheaval associated with mountain-building. Most of the area is composed of granite, and mitigated by mountain hydrology. A small group of mountains along the east, the Serra do Bom Successo, witih extend to Guimarães de Tavares. In addition, other mountainous areas include the Serras de Abrunhosa-a-Velha, Cunha Alta and Almeidinha which link to the Serra da Senhora do Castelo. Disperse and running along lower elevations, the topography is highlighted by the higher elevations in Tabosa, Roda an Fagilde.
Located 15 kilometres from the district seat of Viseu, the municipality of Mangualde is surrounded by Penalva do Castelo (to the north), Viseu (to the west), Nelas, Seia and Gouveia (to the south) and Fornos de Algodres (to the east).
Its area includes 18 civil parishes, including:
Dão-Lafões
Dão-Lafões is a Portuguese NUTS III sub-region in the Centro Region. It is located in central Portugal, and has an approximate area of 3,483 km² and 286,315 inhabitants. Its largest city is Viseu Dão-Lafões is a Portuguese NUTS III sub-region in the Centro Region. It is located in central...
(historical Beira Interior), central region of Portugal, with a total area of 219.25 km² and a total population of 19,879 inhabitants (2011).
History
The region of Mangualde has been a crossroads of many peoples: ViriathusViriathus
Viriathus was the most important leader of the Lusitanian people that resisted Roman expansion into the regions of Western Hispania , where the Roman province of Lusitania would be established...
's warriors, transhumance
Transhumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
shepards, Romans, Moors and Christian conquerors, including soldiers from Castile or France, or even pilgrims. Mangualde was an important outpost in the textile trade from Covilhã, Seia and Gouveia. Its location, on the frontier with the Serra da Estrela and marginalized by its geography to north, was nonetheless a channel of pre-historic cultures associated with the dolmen
Dolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
s that are found through the region. The mount of Nossa Senhora do Castelo, is one such example of the pre-Romanic castros
Castro culture
Castro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
that were used by the early settlers, then reappropriated by the Roman soldiers as forts.
The Romans, attracted by the riches of the Iberian Peninsula (primarily minerals), began to progressively occupy the region until the 5th century, when barbarians invaded the peninsula. Romanization of these lands resulted in a diffusion and assimilation of cultural structures, political hierarchies, social institutions, the economy and religious services. Mangualde was one of the principal access-ways in Lusitânia, connecting Emerita Augusta (Mérida) to Bracara Augusta (Braga). Along the roadway, millennium or road markers were discovered in Abrunhosa-a-Velha, noting the repairs completed to the road under emperors Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
and Numerian
Numerian
Numerian , was a Roman Emperor from 282 to 284 with his older brother Carinus. They were sons of Carus, a general raised to the office of praetorian prefect under Emperor Probus in 282.-Reign:...
. Similarly, a second via crossed the Alcafache bridge (a Roman-built structure) towards Espinho, while another crossed the rivers from the north.
After the barbarian invasions, the region was also taken by Muslim forces, who occupied the area of Nossa Senhora do Castelo. This place became known by the military governor, Zurara, and the fort constructed on the site referred to asCastelo de Zurara (or also Castelo de Azurara), overtime becoming transliterated in ancient name of the municipality: Azurara da Beira. In 1058, the medieval castle was conquered from the Moors, by the forces of Ferdinand I of León and Castile. By 1102, Count Henrique and Countess Theresa, before the independence of Portugal, issued a 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 ....
to the lands of Zurara, between the Dão and Mondego Rivers. It was later confirmed by Afonso II
Afonso II of Portugal
Afonso II , or Affonso , Alfonso or Alphonso or Alphonsus , nicknamed "the Fat" , third king of Portugal, was born in Coimbra on 23 April 1185 and died on 25 March 1223 in the same city. He was the second but eldest surviving son of Sancho I of Portugal by his wife, Dulce, Infanta of Aragon...
, when the monarch issued his ordinances in February 1217, and by King Manuel
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...
in 1514, during his reforms. When Christian forces finally took the fortress, they discovered a privileged lookout that provided line-of-sight for thousands of miles.
During the Middle Ages, the town of Mangualde grew from two distinct poles: the first was designated Cabo da Vila and the other Rossio.
With time, even the population of Rossio began to develop into another distinct neighborhood. Around this time (the middle of the 17th century) the new space was nothing more then some modest dwellings occupied by locals.
After the 17th century, with the creation of the Misericórdia by Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, the institution of "outside" judges by King John IV
John IV of Portugal
|-|John IV was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to his death. He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown and sparked the struggle for the throne of Portugal. John was nicknamed John the Restorer...
(1655), Mangualde experienced a period of great expansion.
In the 19th century, residential growth was significant, helped on by the construction of a new highway towards Guarda, which contributed to this development. Overtime the two original poles merged (in the 20th century), and Rossio took on a greater role: many of the social and economic functions of Mangualde concentrated in Rossio, including public services, banking, commercial shops and cafes.
On 3 July 1986, the Portuguese Assembly ratified the elevation of the town to the category of city.
Geography
Mangualde is dominated by a plateau/table sloping to the south, cut by tributaries of the Dão and Mondego Rivers: the municipality is crossed in the north by the Dão River defining its northern frontier, while its southern border is limited by the Mondego. In addition to these rivers, Mangualde is crossed by a series of gently-flowing ravines and rivers, such as the Ribeira de Frades, Ribeira do Castelo and the Ribeira de Videira, in the western extend of the municipality. The Fagilde reservoir is the largest extension of these limits, and supports the community to the north of Mangualde.Along the valleys there are many fertile alluvial lands, of which, the more fertile parcels are located in the central part of the municipality, around the civil parishes of Mangualde, Fornos de Maceira Dão, Espinho and Alcafache.
Geomorphologically, Mangualde is part of the Maciço Antigo (Old Massif), dating to the Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
. It was affected by a period of prolonged erosion, that was later rejuvenated by upheaval associated with mountain-building. Most of the area is composed of granite, and mitigated by mountain hydrology. A small group of mountains along the east, the Serra do Bom Successo, witih extend to Guimarães de Tavares. In addition, other mountainous areas include the Serras de Abrunhosa-a-Velha, Cunha Alta and Almeidinha which link to the Serra da Senhora do Castelo. Disperse and running along lower elevations, the topography is highlighted by the higher elevations in Tabosa, Roda an Fagilde.
Climate
The climate is Mediterranean, influenced by continental systems, resulting in cold winters and warm, dry summers.Human geography
Located 15 kilometres from the district seat of Viseu, the municipality of Mangualde is surrounded by Penalva do Castelo (to the north), Viseu (to the west), Nelas, Seia and Gouveia (to the south) and Fornos de Algodres (to the east).
Its area includes 18 civil parishes, including:
- Abrunhosa-a-VelhaAbrunhosa-a-VelhaAbrunhosa-a-Velha is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- AlcafacheAlcafacheAlcafache is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal. It lies roughly half way between Viseu and Nelas....
- Chãs de TavaresChãs de TavaresChãs de Tavares is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal. It is located 36 kilometres along the A25 road east of Viseu....
- Cunha AltaCunha AltaCunha Alta is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- Cunha BaixaCunha BaixaCunha Baixa is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- EspinhoEspinho (Mangualde)Espinho is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- Fornos de Maceira DãoFornos de Maceira DãoFornos de Maceira Dão is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- FreixiosaFreixiosaFreixiosa is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- Lobelhe do MatoLobelhe do MatoLobelhe do Mato is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- MangualdeMangualde (parish)Mangualde is a civil parish in the municipality of Mangualde, Portugal....
- MesquitelaMesquitelaMesquitela is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- Moimenta de Maceira DãoMoimenta de Maceira DãoMoimenta de Maceira Dão is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- Póvoa de CervãesPóvoa de CervãesPóvoa de Cervães is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- Quintela de AzuraraQuintela de AzuraraQuintela de Azurara is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- Santiago de CassurrãesSantiago de CassurrãesSantiago de Cassurrães is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- São João da FrestaSão João da FrestaSão João da Fresta is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- Travanca de TavaresTravanca de TavaresTravanca de Tavares is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
- Várzea de TavaresVárzea de TavaresVárzea de Tavares is a freguesia in Mangualde, Portugal....
Economy
The Portuguese branch of PSA Group, Peugeot Citroen Automóveis Portugal S.A, has its industrial facilities in Mangualde.Archaeology
- Castro of Bom Sucesso
- Dolmen of Cunha BaixaDolmen of Cunha BaixaThe Dolmen of Cunha Baixa is a dolmen in the civil parish of Cunha Baixa, in the municipality of Mangualde. It is located in a valley area of the Rio Castelo, between the villages of Cunha Baixa and Espinho.-History:...
Civic
- Citânia de Raposeira
- Fountain of Ricardina
- Palace of the Counts of Anadia
- Pillory of Abrunhosa-a-Velha
- Pillory of Chãs de Tavares
- Old Clock-tower
Religious
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Cervães
- Church of São Julião
- Church of the Misericórdia
- Hermitage of Nossa Senhora do Castelo
- Monastery of Santa Maria de Maceira Dão