Arcos de Valdevez

Sister cities

• Dammarie-les-Lys
• Antony

History

The first settlements in the area of Arcos de Valdevez occurred between the fifth and third millennium B.C., verified by archaeological investigations from many of the funerary mounds within the municipality, such as Núcleo Megalítico do Mezio. This also includes many rock carvings and paintings that were found in the Gião archaeological station. This period of prehistory and the Roman occupation known not just for its influence on toponymy, were important for many of the defensive and habitation structures that dot the landscape of the municipality. These include many of the castros that exist throughout the area, and in particular, in the parishes of Ázere, Álvora, and Cendufe. During the Middle Ages many of these proto-cultural sites were abandoned for medieval parishes or monasteries located along plains or atop strategic hills, such as the Monastery of Ermelo (Cistercians) or Santa Maria de Miranda (Benedictine). These areas facilitated settlement, which was tied to herding and seasonal cultivation, while the mountains provided many sources for game. The facility of settlement greatly enhanced its importance, since its proximity to Spanish territory favoured strategic expansion into the south: the number of medieval bridges in the area, such as in Vilela and Cabreiro improved further expansion. In documents dating back to the tenth and eleventh centuries, there were several military, social centres, and infrastructures that had been built along these northern positions. A Roman-type bridge within the municipal limits, was constructed between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and first referenced during the named Inquirições de 1258 (1258 Inquiries), when the name Arcos appeared in Portuguese toponymy. Although abandoned in the thirteenth century, the Castle…

Geography

Arcos de Valdevez is situated in the northwest Portuguese peninsula of the historical province of Minho, in the district of Viana do Castelo. It is limited in the east by Spanish Galicia, in the south by the municipality of Ponte da Barca, in the southwest and west by Ponte de Lima, also by its western frontier with Paredes de Coura, in the north by Monção and northeast by Melgaço. Territorially, it occupies 20.18% of the Alto Minho subregion, 2.10% of the Norte region, or approximately 0.5% of continental Portugal. The Vez valley, which crosses the territory from north to south, divides the mountainous western and eastern areas, and is the location of the principal activities of the territory. The municipal seat of Arcos de Valdevez, the city specifically, is composed of the civil parishes of Salvador and São Paio, which together account for a population of approximately 2204 inhabitants. It is characteristic of the larger area of northern Portugal, with a relatively homogeneous culture and population, dispersed within a similar scenic environment; it is one of the larger municipalities in Portugal, with an area of approximately . Administratively, the municipality is divided into 36 civil parishes (freguesias): * Aboim das Choças * Aguiã * Alvora e Loureda * Arcos de Valdevez (São Salvador), Vila Fonche e Parada * Arcos de Valdevez (São Paio) e Giela * Ázere * Cabana Maior * Cabreiro * Cendufe * Couto * Eiras e Mei * Gavieira * Gondoriz * Grade e Carralcova * Guilhadeses e Santar * Jolda (São Paio) * Jolda (Madalena) e Rio Cabrão * Miranda * Monte Redondo * Oliveira * Paçô * Padreiro (Salvador e Santa Cristina) * Padroso * Portela e Extremo * Prozelo * Rio de Moinhos * Rio Frio * Sabadim * São Jorge e Ermelo * Senharei * Sistelo * Soajo * Souto e Tabaçô * Távora…

Most-observed species

• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,381
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,234
• Eurasian Blackcap

  Sylvia atricapilla (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  939
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  896
• Eurasian Wren

  Troglodytes troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  871
• White Wagtail

  Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  839
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  837
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  812

Most recent

• M 3.3 — 2015-05-02
  1 km WSW of Arcos, Portugal
• M 3.1 — 2010-10-24
  7 km NE of Redondela, Spain
• M 2.5 — 2008-11-21
  6 km ESE of Ponteareas, Spain
• M 2.6 — 2008-03-26
  4 km NW of Portonovo, Spain
• M 2.8 — 2007-09-03
  27 km WSW of Portonovo, Spain
• M 2.7 — 2007-08-06
  4 km WSW of Ponteareas, Spain