The village Vale de Gouvinhas is situated in a valley on the right bank of the river Tuela in the town of Mirandela

Mirandela

Mirandela is a city in Mirandela Municipality in northern Portugal. The city itself has a population of about 15 000.Mirandela is famous for its cuisine, particularly the alheiras. Mirandela is becoming a popular tourist destination in northeastern Portugal. One of its four bridges on the Tua...

, which lies at 20 km. It borders the villages Abambres (5 km), Vale de Telhas (2 km), Bouça

Bouca

Bouca is a town located in the Central African Republic prefecture of Ouham. It is not far east of Bossangoa at the Fafa river....

 and Cabanelas (3 km). It has 380 inhabitants (2001).

Naming

The toponym Vale de Gouvinhas seems an anthroponym

Anthroponymy

Anthroponomastics , a branch of onomastics, is the study of anthroponyms Anthroponomastics (or anthroponymy), a branch of onomastics, is the study of anthroponyms Anthroponomastics (or anthroponymy), a branch of onomastics, is the study of anthroponyms (Anthroponomastics (or anthroponymy), a branch...

, that is, it seems to come from the name of a person. Historians believe that this person is of Germanic origin (Ganda), but they can not specifically identify the name. In the second century appeared the name "Gaudin" (Latin). In 1150 the name called "Goubina (Goubinas?) appears in the Curia of Dom Afonso Henriques. Both names can be related to the toponym Gouvinhas, for the third hypothesis, by phonetic evolution in the merging patronymic "Gaudilaci" of Gaudila and Gouvia. What is clear that the name Gouvinhas is old.

History

This location, taking account of the archeology of Torre de Dona Chama

Torre de Dona Chama

Torre de Dona Chama is a Portuguese civil parish in the municipality and district of Bragança, in the Trás-os-Montes region of northern Portugal...

, the fort and the fortifications, point to a settlement in the pre-and proto-history. The current village dates from the twelfth century. From a religious point of view, Vale de Gouvinhas and the neighboring villages form a union since the fifteenth century. It is erected by the abbey of Saint Mammes

Mammes of Caesarea

Saint Mammes of Caesarea ; is a semi-legendary child-martyr of the 3rd century. He was martyred at Caesarea. His parents, Theodotus and Rufina, were also martyred.-Life:...

 in Guide

Guide, Mirandela

Guide is a Portuguese village at Torre de Dona Chama, district of Bragança.Guide has the grandeur of an ancient parish field, the main square and houses are showing nice care of old buildings, along with the modern....

 through the establishment of a church and a parish, appointed by the Curia. From a royal perspective a notable from Torre de Dona Chama was ruler. Administratively, these villages, formed the "Terra de Ledra" and there was, for a period of domination by Torre de Dona Chama, a division of the land in the form of "reviews" (twelfth or thirteenth century). It remained a part of the province Torre de Dona Chama to October 24, 1855, the date the province seized to exist. Currently it is part of the municipality Mirandela.

Heraldry

Coat of Arms: Red shield, a jolted golden grapevine, foliated and golden tendrils, silvery fruit, under a cross of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta on top of silver and blue waived stripes. Silver mural crown with three towers. White listel with caption in black: "Vale de Gouvinhas".

Flag: white. Silver and red cord and tassels. Golden rod and spear.

Seal: according to the law with caption: "Union of villages of Vale de Gouvinhas - Mirandela".

Festivals and Fairs

What	When	Where
Festival of Our Lady of the Rosary Our Lady of the Rosary Our Lady of the Rosary is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in relation to the rosary....	Held on the 2nd weekend in August	Vale de Gouvinhas
Festival of Saint Andrew Saint Andrew Saint Andrew , called in the Orthodox tradition Prōtoklētos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. The name "Andrew" , like other Greek names, appears to have been common among the Jews from the 3rd or 2nd century BC. No Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him...	Commemorated on November 30	Vale de Gouvinhas
Festival of Saint Margaret Margaret the Virgin Margaret the Virgin, also known as Margaret of Antioch , virgin and martyr, is celebrated as a saint by the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches on July 20; and on July 17 in the Orthodox Church. Her historical existence has been questioned; she was declared apocryphal by Pope Gelasius I in 494,...	Takes place on the 3rd weekend of July	Vale de Maior
Festival of the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...	Held on the 7th weekend after Easter	Quintas

External links and sources

• Portuguese Wikipedia article
• Vale de Gouvinhas web site