Vila Nova de Cerveira
Encyclopedia
Vila Nova de Cerveira (ˈvilɐ ˈnɔvɐ ðɨ sɨɾˈvɐjɾɐ, locally: ˈbilɐ ˈnɔβɐ ðɨ sɨɾˈβɐjɾɐ) is a municipality in Portugal
with a total area of 108.6 km² and a total population of 8,752 inhabitants (2006).
The municipality is composed of 15 parishes and is located in the district of Viana do Castelo
.
The present Mayor is José Manuel Vaz Carpinteira, elected by the Socialist Party
.
The municipal holiday is October 1.
in 1321 and today is mainly known and visited due to the international biennial of art that takes place in the town since 1978.
, which establishes the border with Spain
, and is limited to northeast with the municipality of Valença
, Paredes de Coura
to the east, Ponte de Lima to the south, and Caminha
to south-southwest.
"Once upon a time... there was a stag (deer) that was chosen by the Gods of Olympos to become a King. And so the stag decided to move, together with other stags, to this uninhabited territory that began to be known as "Terras de Cervaria" (Land of the Stags). Many years flew past. Fights, skirmishes, and disasters gradually devastated the colony until only the King Stag was left. According to the legend, when the noblemen from Asturias
came down during the Reconquest to conquer what was to become the Condado Portucalense (Portugal), a young noblemen challenged the King Stag to a face-to-face duel. And the old Lord accepted. The duel took place among the trees and weeds on a trenched site. And, so the legend tells, the King Stag swept to victory! He kept the nobleman's flag that turned to be the King's coat of arms. But the Gods deceived the old King. He wouldn't be immortal... Tired of living and ill, the old Lord died in the loneliness of the crags and with him disappeared for good the Terra da Cervaria."
But the legend wasn't forgotten and the coat-of-arms still bears a golden passant stag in silver armour standing in a green field.
on 1 October 1321, who also ordered the construction of the castle that still dominates the town center.
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...
with a total area of 108.6 km² and a total population of 8,752 inhabitants (2006).
The municipality is composed of 15 parishes and is located in the district of Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo (district)
The district of Viana do Castelo is a district located in the northwest of Portugal, bordered by Spain from the north and Braga District from the south. It has an area of 2,255 km² and a population of 252,011 , for a density of 111.8 inhabitants/km²...
.
The present Mayor is José Manuel Vaz Carpinteira, elected by the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Portugal)
The Socialist Party , abbreviated to PS, is a social-democratic political party in Portugal. It was founded on 19 April 1973 in the German city of Bad Münstereifel, by militants from Portuguese Socialist Action ....
.
The municipal holiday is October 1.
Parishes
- Campos
- Candemil
- Cornes
- Covas
- Gondar
- Gondarém
- Loivo
- Lovelhe
- Mentrestido
- Nogueira
- Reboreda
- Sapardos
- Sopo
- Vila Meã
- Vila Nova de Cerveira
General information
The town was founded by King Denis of PortugalDenis of Portugal
Dinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
in 1321 and today is mainly known and visited due to the international biennial of art that takes place in the town since 1978.
Location
Between the river and the mountain, Vila Nova de Cerveira is located on the left bank of Minho RiverMinho River
The Minho or Miño is the longest river in Galicia, Spain, with an extension of 340 km.Both names come from Latin Minius...
, which establishes the border with Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and is limited to northeast with the municipality of Valença
Valença, Portugal
Valença is a city in Valença Municipality, Portugal. It is a half-castle and half-land city. Bordering Galicia, Valença is also a famous Portuguese landmark to view an ancient castle town. These two parts of this city are not separated from each other and is also near to Viana Do Castelo....
, Paredes de Coura
Paredes de Coura
Paredes de Coura is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 138.2 km² and a total population of 9,367 inhabitants .The municipality is composed of 21 parishes and is located in the district of Viana do Castelo....
to the east, Ponte de Lima to the south, and Caminha
Caminha
Caminha is a municipality in the north-west of Portugal, 21 km north from Viana do Castelo, located in the Viana do Castelo District.The municipality has a total area of 137.4 km² and 16,839 inhabitants ....
to south-southwest.
The name of the village
The name of the village is explained by a legend."Once upon a time... there was a stag (deer) that was chosen by the Gods of Olympos to become a King. And so the stag decided to move, together with other stags, to this uninhabited territory that began to be known as "Terras de Cervaria" (Land of the Stags). Many years flew past. Fights, skirmishes, and disasters gradually devastated the colony until only the King Stag was left. According to the legend, when the noblemen from Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
came down during the Reconquest to conquer what was to become the Condado Portucalense (Portugal), a young noblemen challenged the King Stag to a face-to-face duel. And the old Lord accepted. The duel took place among the trees and weeds on a trenched site. And, so the legend tells, the King Stag swept to victory! He kept the nobleman's flag that turned to be the King's coat of arms. But the Gods deceived the old King. He wouldn't be immortal... Tired of living and ill, the old Lord died in the loneliness of the crags and with him disappeared for good the Terra da Cervaria."
But the legend wasn't forgotten and the coat-of-arms still bears a golden passant stag in silver armour standing in a green field.
History
Vila Nova de Cerveira was established by the King Denis of PortugalDenis of Portugal
Dinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
on 1 October 1321, who also ordered the construction of the castle that still dominates the town center.
Attractions
- The castle, today transformed to a pousada, was founded by King Denis of PortugalDenis of PortugalDinis , called the Farmer King , was the sixth King of Portugal and the Algarve. The eldest son of Afonso III of Portugal by his second wife, Beatrice of Castile and grandson of king Alfonso X of Castile , Dinis succeeded his father in 1279.-Biography:As heir to the throne, Infante Dinis was...
and dates back from the 14th century. It lies on a small hill that rises next to the Minho RiverMinho RiverThe Minho or Miño is the longest river in Galicia, Spain, with an extension of 340 km.Both names come from Latin Minius...
, thus overlooking the town and passages between Vila Nova de Cerveira and Galicia. The castle still preserves the old wall shield as well as some gates. Inside the walls, it's possible to find the old Town Hall, the old Court, the pillory (pelourinho in Portuguese), old barracks, and warehouses.
- The Parish Church, or Igreja Matriz, was built in the 18th century and is dedicated to São Cipriano, the patron Saint of Vila Nova de Cerveira.
- The pillory, or pelourinho, is a symbol of municipal jurisdiction and is located inside the castle in front of the old Town Hall, or Paços do Concelho. It dates back from the 15th century.
- The old Town Hall dates back from the 16th century and is located inside the castle. In front of the building is the pillory.
- The Misericórdia Church is located inside the castle and dates back from the 17th century.
- The Manor House of the Castros Family, or Solar dos Castros, is a remarkable 18th century structure and it's one of the most important buildings in town. Currently, it houses the municipal library.
- Lovelhe Fortress was built in the 17th century in a strategic area for defense manoeuvers on the left bank of Minho River during the restoration war (1640–1668) against CastileCrown of CastileThe Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...