Mogadouro


Mogadouro is a municipality in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 9,542, in an area of 760.65 km².

History

The history of Mogadouro is evident in the number of castros that dot the landscape of region from the neolithic period. In particular are the castros of Oleiros in Bemposta, Vilarinho, São Martinho do Peso, Figueirinha de Travanca, Bruçó and the more recently excavated castro in Vilariça, in the Serra da Castanheira.
The Celts passed through this region, leaving behind its art and religion, the so-called Cultura aos Berrões. One of these Celtic tribes, the Zoelae, were responsible for settling many of the lands along the Douro, Sabor and Angueira Rivers.
During the Roman period, the region is referred to in art, religion and socio-economic reports, indicating its regional importance. The Ara Romana to Deus Jupiter Depulsori, is one of these remnants of this period. Throughout the municipality area have been discovered many funerary stones and artefacts that attest the Romanization of these lands.
Vestiges of the Visigothic era are rare, but include a paleo-Christian inscription that was discovered in São Martinho do Peso, or Mogadouro, developed from this locational designation.
The Castle of Penas Róias was constructed during the nation-building of Afonso Henriques. The stone of the cell-block tower is inscribed with a medieval statement: "Começaram os fundamentos do Castelo chamadao Pena Roia na era de 1204 sendo Mestre Geral dos Templários Gualdim Pais" . The later Castle of Modagouro, from the same decade, was started prior to the establishment of the civic charter in 1272/73. During the Portuguese dynastic crisis the noble classes supported the King of Castile, resulting in an eventual reprisal by Prince John. Consequently, although its economic activity did not contract, the lack of royal patronage meant that Mogadouro remained stagnated until the 16th century.
Mogadouro, historically, fell within the Caminhos de Santiago, a capillary of secondary roadways that extended throughout the Trás-os-Montes region leading pilgrims down Saint James Way. The principal road arrived in Mogadouro from Castelo Rodrigo, from two routes: from Freixo de Espada à Cinta ; the other from Moncorvo. The Caminho de Santiago forked in Mogadouro at the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Caminho : to Azinhoso, then over a medieval bridge that connected Penas Roias, Algoso, Vimioso to Bragança; the other road departed from the Church of Nossa Senhora do Caminho, to Santiago, then Algosinho, Ventoselo, on the way passing by a spring, to another chapel to Santigao. There were several tributaries, shortcuts and dirt tracks on the pilgrim roadways, such as: through Azinhoso ; through Variz, Castanheira, Valcerto, Algoso, Campo de Víboras and Vimioso; through Santiago, an important crossroads between Peredo de Bemposta and Bemposta. Those who travelled from the southern part of the district would likely stop in Zava.
It was after the 16th century that Mogadouro saw some growth. The Távora family, a noble house with influence and power in court, controlled the region, commanding the fort and guiding the town, generally contributing to the development of the lands within their domain. It was through the action of the Távoras that the local Santa Casa da Misericórdia was founded in 1559, and its local church. The bridges between Valverde and Meirinhos, and the Remondes bridge, between Mogadouro and Macedo de Cavaleiros were also constructed with the patronage of the Távoras. In addition, the family supported the constructions of a few churches and altars in various municipalities throughout the 17th–18th century, including the Convent of São Francisco, the Matriz Church of Mogadouro, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ascensão, in the heights of Serra da Castanheira and many others. But, by act of King Joseph I the Távoras lands were confiscated by the Marquess of Pombal, and members of the family executed after an attempted-assassination of the monarch. The annilhation of the family resulted in the loss of development impetus.
The municipal archive, installed in the Convent of São Francisco burned down in 1881.
After the extinction of the monastic orders, by the Liberal government, the Convent of São Francisco was appropriated to store public records and local administration.
By the 19th century, few of the noble families were interested in their holdings in Mogadouro, nor did they do much to develop these lands. By the end of the 20th century, only the poet-jurist José Francisco Trindade Coelho defended his land rights, and the region was abandoned by the central hierarchy of Lisbon.
The Sabor line, a narrow gauge railway, served the community between 1930 and 1988.

Geography

Physical geography

The municipality of Mogadouro, situated in the Trás-os-Montes region of northeastern Portugal, in the traditional district of Bragança. It is boxed by the northeastern municipalities of Vimioso, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Alfândega da Fé, Torre de Moncorvo and Freixo de Espada à Cinta. It is separated from the Spanish province of Castilla y León, by the river-valley of the Douro River, whose margins are cut by v-shaped inclines. The territory of Mogadouro is naturally delimited by environment of the Rivers Douro and Sabor. A great part of the territory of the Mogadouro belongs to the Mirandês Plateau, lands rich fertile fields responsible for the cultivation of cereals, supporting cattle and sheep herds. Two sheltered valleys, with micro-climates, support vineyards, olive, orange and almond orchards, as well as other Mediterranean products.
The area around the Douro is a zone of granite escarpments of large blocks, resulting in a relief that is shaped by schists interrupted by quartz rocks that form the mountains. In the southern part of this area, dominated by the Sabor basin, there are different layers of schists. The soils, and climatic characteristics, have resulted in a diversified coverage that change throughout the year. Average median altitudes reach 700 metres, above sea level, although there are exceptions, as is the case with the Cimos de Mogadouro.

Ecoregions/Protected areas

Mogadouro is also the seat for the Parque Natural do Douro Internacional, a protected wilderness that includes primarily the slopes of the Douro valley, but also lands designated as bird sanctuaries for species of eagle, the griffon and Egyptian vultures, and the rare black stork, in addition to the red-billed chough, the alpine swift and the black wheatear.
During the months of April and May, the flowering trees highlight the landscapes of many of the parishes. Mountain perennials are also common, although the Fagaceae and holly oak, cork oak and juniper are the predominant species.

Climate

Located in the southern part of the Mirandês Plateau, the region is influenced by three climatic systems: the Atlantic, the Continent and the Mediterranean. As a result, its agriculture is varied and its landscape is full of contrasts. In the winter, the climate is rigorously cold and icy, with snowfall common throughout the period. In the summer, its is susceptible to torrid heat, typical of continental climates, that supports a dry vegetation.

Human geography

The municipality of Mogadouro has, over the last decades, suffered an enormous depopulation, resulting in the concentration into the urbanized areas, and emigration to the coastal communities of Portugal. Like many of the Transmontana communities, Mogadouran hamlets built on traditional homes adapted to the climate of the region, built of granite or schist material, with verandas or balconies used to dry clothing, hang/dry onions and pumpkins/squash, or generalling conserve foodstuffs. The modernization of these traditional communities has ironically resulted in the destruction of Transmontan patrimony.
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 21 civil parishes :
Mogadouro is essentially a rural area, supported by agriculture and animal by-products. In addition to the primary sector, Mogadouro supports a diverse industrial sector, with warehouses, shops and industries linked to agriculture.
Along the Mirandês Plateau, cereal crops and forage allows the support of a large dairy industry. Mogadouro is one of the most productive milk suppliers in the north. Mogadouro is also a land known for almond production. Principally, in the fields of Valverde, Meirinhos, São Pedro, Souto, Roca, Santo André and São Martinho do Peso, these lands are covered in flowering trees seasonally, used in harvesting of the legumes.
In other periods, the horse culture was important in this region, not just in agriculture and transport, but also as a centre of equestrian training and breeding; the Quinta de Nogueira was well known as the second most important estate for the breeding and raising of horses, after the Quinta de Alter do Chão. During the stewardship of the Távoras, the Quinta de Nogueira and Quinta Nova were an economic pole of the family.
Hunting is another important part of the local economy: in forested areas wild boar is typical; in short brush biomes, partridge and hare; and in the gardens and vegetable fields, rabbit is typical. This is an important economic benefit, not only attracting tourists, but hunting parties to the restaurants and residences in the region annually. During hunting season, many of the local hunting "lodges" are occupied with hunters and their associations, who travel into the region specifically for these species.

Culture

Tradition

Local artisanship is also strong. The Associação Cultural e Recreativa de Soutelo ) has promoted much of the traditional products of wool and cotton, including quilts, towels, embroidery, sericulture, metal-smithing, basket-weaving, rural miniatures. A local artisan has also produced artefacts in clay, reproducing faithfully the traditional techniques employed in Mogadouro and Nordeste Transmontanan.
The Nordeste Transmontanan gastronomy includes a variety of simple rural dishes, many of which include cured meats and sausages, blood chouriço, linguiça,bochas, chabianos, vilões, tabafeias and salpicão, which are considered the kings of gastronomy in the region. On many plates there are the customary portion of the Mirandês veal, the marrã, the sopa de xis, the cascas com bulho, sopas das segadas,cabritinho serrano, cordeiro churro assado na brasa, and greens. Local cheeses, honey, económicos, roscos, matrafões, folar da Páscoa, rosinhas, formigos and tantas round out the peculiar digestive and aperitifs of the region.
Mogadouro is the central community, with a Preparatory and Secondary School serving the large border frontier. Regional policies have allowed the advancement of local projects and initiatives and supported the active participation of its local citizens: there are 30 cultural and recreational associations coordinated by the Projecto Cultural initiative, based in Mogadouro.

Notable citizens