Viseu

Sister cities

• Lublin

History

The origins of the city of Viseu date back to the pre-Roman period of the Celts and Lusitanians. Vissaîegobor is the name given to the settlement that later became the city of Viseu, Portugal, during the pre-Roman period. It is believed to be of Celtic or Lusitanian origin. The city was renamed as *Vissaium during the Romanization period, with a possible Latinized suffix. With its Romanisation the settlement gained importance, being at the intersection of a series of Roman roads linking Mérida, Lisbon, and Galicia. Viseu is historically associated with Viriathus, the Lusitanian hero believed have been born in this region. After the Roman occupation of the peninsula, under the Suebians and then the Visigoths, the settlement was elevated to the status of city and to the seat of a diocese in the 6th century. The origins of Viseu extend to proto-history, when migrating groups settled the territory, including the Celts and Lusitanians. Roman colonists settled in these territories during eras of prosperity and peace, leading eventually to a succession of rulers, namely Suebic, Gothic and Muslim. By the mid sixth century, the Suebians had already established a community, with a bishop elected by the suffrage of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Braga. For many years it was incorporated into the Bishopric of Coimbra, due to the intervention of the clergy, including St Teotónio. In the 12th century, Viseu began regaining its importance as an urban centre. Peace lasted for the next three centuries after that, allowing the city to prosper. Following the death of King Ferdinand I, the Castilians sought to enforce (by force-of-arms), its rights to the lands/territories of the County of Portugal, bringing unrest once more. During Countship of Portugal, Viseu had served as the seat…

Geography

Viseu is approximately East of the Atlantic Ocean. Surrounded by a number of mountains – Leomil, Montemuro, Lapa, Arada, Estrela and Caramulo – the tops of which are covered with thick layers of snow in Winter time, the district is crossed by a network of rivers and streamlets. The city of Viseu has an almost central position in relation to the District lying on the so-called Viseu Plateau (in Portuguese Planalto de Viseu). It is surrounded by a mountainous system constituted to the north by the Leonil, Montemuro, and Lapa hills, to the northeast by the Arado hills, to the south and southeast by the Serra da Estrela and the Lousã hills and to the west by the Caramulo hills. The Municipality is characterized by an irregular surface with altitudes ranging between . With rough terrain, it has numerous water courses. These are found in three basins: the Vouga, the Dão and the Paiva. Situated in a zone of transition, the concelho (municipality) has several micro-climates. The Serra do Caramulo, located to the west of the city, plays an important role in climatic terms by lessening the influences of the western air masses (although the Mondego River's basin makes the penetration easier). Consequently, Viseu's climate is characterized by the existence of high temperature extremes, with cold and wet winters and hot and dry summers. Viseu has a Mediterranean climate (Csb, bordering Csa), with the 1981–2010 averages indicating it just below the isotherm. Its inland position and relative altitude contribute to cooler winters than in coastal areas of the country, with an average of 31 days of frost per year; | source = }} Administratively, the municipality is divided into 25 civil parishes: * Abraveses * Barreiros e Cepões * Boa Aldeia, Farminhão e Torredeita * Bodiosa *…