Castro Laboreiro

Coordinates: 42°01.365′N 8°09.488′W / 42.022750°N 8.158133°W / 42.022750; -8.158133

Castro Laboreiro
Parish

Coat of arms
Country Portugal
Municipality Melgaço
Disbanded 2013
Area
 • Total 89.29 km2 (34.48 sq mi)
Population
 • Total 726
 • Density 8.1/km2 (21/sq mi)

Castro Laboreiro is a village and a former civil parish in the municipality of Melgaço in the Viana do Castelo District, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Castro Laboreiro e Lamas de Mouro.[1] It is in the mountain range of the Laboreiro. As of 2001 the area had 726 inhabitants. The name derives from Castro, a hill fort, and Lepporariu, "of hares", a Latin name from Roman times.[2]

History and scenery

There are many archaeological sites in the area that show evidence of very early human occupation.[3]

Cascata do Laboreiro, a waterfall on the Homem River, can be seen from the walls of the ruin of the Castle of Castro Laboreiro, situated above the town.

Roman and medieval bridges are found nearby over the various rivers, including the Laboreiro River, Mire River, and others.

For centuries, the domain passed back and forth between Christian and Muslim rulers. In 1141, D. Afonso Henriques (1112–1185) took control of the castle. In 1944, the castle was classified by the government as a National Monument.

The village also has a pre-Romanesque church, Santa Maria da Visitação, built in the 9th century.[4] The Feast of Santa Maria da Visitação is held on July 6 each year.

Points of interest:

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Castro Laboreiro.

References

  1. ↑ Diário da República. "Law nr. 11-A/2013, page 552 70" (pdf) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Tourism of Portugal website
  3. ↑ Tourism, Melgaço: "with the most significant one in Castro Laboreiro, where several remains from ancient tribes from different periods were found."
  4. ↑ Santa Maria da Visitação


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 1/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.