MÓS
41° 09' 27" N; 6° 54' 20" W
Mós is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Torre de Moncorvo, with an area of 58.69 km² and 189 inhabitants (2021). Its population density is 3.2 inhabitants/km².
The parish is made up of two villages:
millstones
Quinta das Centeiras
History
The parish of Mós, about 600 meters high, is located between the rivers of Mós and Santa Marinha. It is surrounded by several elevations such as Monte da Forca Velha, Lagareira, Lagarinhos and Forca Nova. A former Medieval village, it received a charter from D. Afonso Henriques in 1162. It had a castle, of which the walls of the small fence that it had remain. With an oval plan and an open door to the south, it was an important sentinel of the border lands.
Distance from Torre de Moncorvo:
16 km
Architectural Heritage
Given the uniqueness of this village as having been the county seat, it has a large set of architectural heritage, of which it is worth highlighting the Igreja Matriz, the Pelourinho, the Romanesque fountain, the Casa da Câmara e Cadeia, the chapels of Santa Bárbara, Santo Cristo, de Santo António, the stone crosses, the traditional shale constructions, the Capa Longa mill, the Public Oven and the Forca, among other rural sets scattered throughout the parish of great ethnographic interest.
Archaeological Heritage
The Medieval Castle of Mós is a Property of Public Interest, from which parts of the wall of the small fence that it had are preserved. Implemented on a low hill, consisting of a small fence with an oval plant.
The Calçada Medieval de Mós is a serpentine path of about 700 meters, opened at the foot of the hills, using the same relief that in past times connected Mós to Freixo de Espada to Cinta. Also noteworthy is the old Marialva path that follows the Ribeira do Mosteiro and which connected Mós to Barca de Alva.
The Ferraria da Chapa Cunha, located on the left bank of the Mós stream, was built in the late 18th century and was used as an iron production factory.
Natural patrimony
In the Sanctuary of Santa Bárbara it is possible to observe a wonderful landscape with an immensity of mountains intertwined with each other. Ribeira de Mós is an authentic natural sanctuary, which leaves no one indifferent.
Traditions and Crafts
lace quilts
Festivities and Pilgrimages
Santa Barbara - Last weekend in August
Chouriça Festival – February
Second edition of the “Rota Ribeira de Mós” (all terrain) – March
Annual tour of the Elderly Home of the Bem-fazer de Mós Association – May
Feast of Popular Saints - June
Economic activities
Agriculture (almond, olive growing) and pastoralism
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URROS
41° 4' 58" N; 7° 1' 22" W
Urros is an old Portuguese parish in the municipality of Torre de Moncorvo, with an area of 57.43 km² and 265 inhabitants (2011). Its population density was 4.6 inhabitants/km².
Since 2013, it has been part of the new Union of Parishes of Urros and Peredo dos Castelhanos.
History
Located on the right bank of the Douro River, Urros is a very old town that dates back to pre-Roman times. The village is surrounded by the summit of Poio and Castelo, both of greater archaeological importance.
During the formation of Portugal it appears as a fortification used in the border area with León, being the scene of fights due to the disagreements of D. Afonso II and his sisters.
In 1182, D. Afonso Henriques grants a charter to Urros. On May 7, 1370, it was integrated into the municipality of Torre de Moncorvo, by letter from D. Fernando.
This locality acquired great economic importance in the 19th century. XIX, due to the cultivation of the silkworm.
Distance to Torre de Moncorvo:
23 km
Architectural Heritage
In Urros, the Sanctuary of Santo Apolinário stands out, dating back to the 15th century. A place of great pilgrimage for the people of the region and Ribacôa, the church features the tomb of Santo Apolinário, the Baroque carved altars in the national style, the ceilings covered with painted coffers and the walls with traces of 17th-century frescoes. The complex is classified as a property of public interest.
Also worthy of mention are the chapel of Senhora do Castelo, the cross, the rural set of circular haystacks, Cousso fountain, Nogueira fountain and Ferraria fountain.
Archaeological Heritage
In the parish of Urros, the hill fort of Nossa Senhora do Castelo is worth mentioning, with occupation from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, where sections of the wall are still visible. In the immediate vicinity, mention should be made of the Moorish hole, a probable mining site from the Roman period.
Next to the Santo Apolinário Sanctuary is the Roman site of Lameirões. In addition to these places, the parish is punctuated by other places of archaeological interest.
Natural patrimony
In this parish you can enjoy the magnificent landscape that the Douro river offers, from Castro da Senhora do Castelo. Let yourself be dazzled by the geological curiosities (quartzite folding) in the vicinity of the village of Urros.
Traditions and Crafts
Weaving (quilts and rugs)
Festivities and Pilgrimages
Santo Apolinário (last weekend in August)
Nossa Senhora do Castelo or Prazeres (Easter Monday)
Economic activities
Agriculture (wine-growing, olive-growing and almond-growing), livestock and pastoralism.
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LOUSA
41° 9' 53" N; 7° 10' 47" W
Lousa is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Torre de Moncorvo, with an area of 34.97 km² and 287 inhabitants (2021). Its population density is 8.2 inhabitants/km².
Lousa is located at an altitude of 800 meters. It is located in the extreme southwest of the municipality, on the right bank of the Douro River and borders the municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães. The territory of this parish is vast, consisting of hillside areas, mountains and deep valleys to which a small part of the plateau is added. It is crossed by some water courses that flow into the Douro River. The soil has different characteristics: in the Ribeira area, shale predominates, from Ribeira to the village, granite predominates.
This locality has areas with different climates: next to the parish headquarters, it snows and is cold in winter, with intense heat in summer. In the middle of the slopes of the Douro River, it rarely snows, it is milder in winter and hotter in summer.
Etymologically, the name Lousa means slate, blade or slab of stone, as there is a lot of schist in the village and formed by several blades, which is why the schist plates there were called slates or slates, hence the name of Lousa.
The settlement of its territory dates back to prehistoric times due to the appearance of some stone axes and other archaeological remains. Celts, Barbarians and Arabs or Moors passed through this village. From that time manual millstones and Roman pottery have been found.
Distance to Torre de Moncorvo:
23 km
Architectural Heritage
Given the age of this village, there are several points of architectural interest here: the Igreja Matriz de São Lourenço; the chapels of Santo António, Santa Bárbara, S. Sebastião, Nossa Senhora do Amparo, Divino Espirito Santo and Nossa Senhora da Consolação; the cross, located at the entrance to the village, with a garden and granite staircase; the sources of Reboleiro, Corisco, Vale da Jandeira; the ovens for baking bread; the oil and wine mills; and not least the set of windmills.
The urban complex is also of remarkable interest, with several dwellings typical of rural architecture.
Archaeological Heritage
This parish has several points of archaeological interest: Castelejo, a prehistoric settlement with later occupation; several places with traces of Romanization such as Parada and Garcia. Several prehistoric finds should be mentioned, with emphasis on the existence of megalithic monuments in the neighboring parishes of Castedo and Vilarinho da Castanheira.
At the end of the Middle Ages, the Convent of the Most Holy Trinity is founded, of which today only the ruins remain, such as parts of the convent fence and the carved stones of the chapel.
To the west of the village there are two caves of possible archaeological interest, one located in Carrasqueira and the other in Poio, the latter is a huge rock that houses a large cave.
There are traces of wolfram exploration among other metals.
