Arouca
A true guardian of stories since ancient times, the municipality of Arouca was born and developed, as the people say, in the shadow of its monastery, especially after the arrival in these lands of Queen Santa Mafalda, daughter of D. Sancho I, granddaughter of D. Afonso Henriques.
A land of deep, fertile valleys, cut by various rivers and embraced by mountains, from early on people settled here. Fertility and isolation were found here by those who wanted to dedicate themselves to religion. For this reason, Arouca bases a good part of its identity on the Monastery, whose magnificence still dominates the town where it is located.
The result of various constructions and reconstructions, the current Monastery has its roots somewhere in the 10th century, founded by two nobles from Moldes, Loderigo and Vandilo. In the 12th century, under the guidance of D. Toda Viegas, the monastery was granted various privileges and donations by D. Afonso Henriques, embodied in the two Letters of Couto, of 1132 and 1143.
At the beginning of the 13th century, already in the possession of the Portuguese Crown, the Monastery was left in testament by D. Sancho I to his daughter D. Mafalda, who arrived in Arouca between 1217 and 1220, after an unconsummated marriage with the King of Castile. She gave herself completely to the monastic life and raised the Monastery to a time of absolute splendour.
After D. Mafalda's death, the Monastery of Arouca continued to enjoy enormous prestige, evoking her memory, her protection and cultivating her reputation as a saint.
In 1256, after D. Mafalda's death, the Monastery continued to enjoy enormous prestige, evoking her memory, her protection and her fame as a saint, which became a cult. Hailed as a saint by the people, she was beatified in 1792, and her body rested in an urn made of ebony, crystal, bronze and silver, in a wing of the Monastery Church, to which she was transferred in 1793 (one year after her death).
The ancient couto of Arouca was formed by the territories of most of the parishes that currently make up the municipality of Arouca. They were: S. Bartolomeu de Arouca, Santo Estêvão de Moldes, Cabreiros, Albergaria da Serra, part of the parish of S. Salvador do Burgo, Santa Eulália, S. Miguel de Urrô, Várzea, Rossas, Santa Marinha de Tropêço and Chave. In 1817, the municipality of Vila Meã do Burgo was annexed to that of Arouca. The municipalities of Alvarenga and Fermêdo, after their extinction, also saw their parishes become Arouquenses. Thus, in 1836, the parishes of Santa Cruz de Alvarenga, Canelas, Janarde and Espiunca, and in 1855, S. Miguel do Mato, Fermêdo, Escariz and Mansores. In 1917, Covêlo de Paivó, which belonged to the municipality of S. Pedro do Sul, was also annexed, making Arouca, from then on, to have twenty parishes.
A land of deep, fertile valleys, cut by various rivers and embraced by mountains, from early on people settled here. Fertility and isolation were found here by those who wanted to dedicate themselves to religion. For this reason, Arouca bases a good part of its identity on the Monastery, whose magnificence still dominates the town where it is located.
The result of various constructions and reconstructions, the current Monastery has its roots somewhere in the 10th century, founded by two nobles from Moldes, Loderigo and Vandilo. In the 12th century, under the guidance of D. Toda Viegas, the monastery was granted various privileges and donations by D. Afonso Henriques, embodied in the two Letters of Couto, of 1132 and 1143.
At the beginning of the 13th century, already in the possession of the Portuguese Crown, the Monastery was left in testament by D. Sancho I to his daughter D. Mafalda, who arrived in Arouca between 1217 and 1220, after an unconsummated marriage with the King of Castile. She gave herself completely to the monastic life and raised the Monastery to a time of absolute splendour.
After D. Mafalda's death, the Monastery of Arouca continued to enjoy enormous prestige, evoking her memory, her protection and cultivating her reputation as a saint.
In 1256, after D. Mafalda's death, the Monastery continued to enjoy enormous prestige, evoking her memory, her protection and her fame as a saint, which became a cult. Hailed as a saint by the people, she was beatified in 1792, and her body rested in an urn made of ebony, crystal, bronze and silver, in a wing of the Monastery Church, to which she was transferred in 1793 (one year after her death).
The ancient couto of Arouca was formed by the territories of most of the parishes that currently make up the municipality of Arouca. They were: S. Bartolomeu de Arouca, Santo Estêvão de Moldes, Cabreiros, Albergaria da Serra, part of the parish of S. Salvador do Burgo, Santa Eulália, S. Miguel de Urrô, Várzea, Rossas, Santa Marinha de Tropêço and Chave. In 1817, the municipality of Vila Meã do Burgo was annexed to that of Arouca. The municipalities of Alvarenga and Fermêdo, after their extinction, also saw their parishes become Arouquenses. Thus, in 1836, the parishes of Santa Cruz de Alvarenga, Canelas, Janarde and Espiunca, and in 1855, S. Miguel do Mato, Fermêdo, Escariz and Mansores. In 1917, Covêlo de Paivó, which belonged to the municipality of S. Pedro do Sul, was also annexed, making Arouca, from then on, to have twenty parishes.
The Monastery has always had a fundamental importance, whether at the level of economy, culture or, obviously, religiosity. Benefiting from a fertile land, such as the Arouca valley, with the Arda river and the protection of the Freita, Gamarão and Mó mountains, the Monastery of Arouca developed over time, until it took on the grandeur it is known for today.
It also played a vital role in the Reconquista period, contributing to the reorganisation of the territory (both economically and in terms of productivity), and to the settlement and protection of the population (both physically and spiritually).
The history of Arouca is therefore almost the history of its monastery. There, for many centuries, the people of Arouca lived, worked, prayed and built the identity that we recognise today.
It also played a vital role in the Reconquista period, contributing to the reorganisation of the territory (both economically and in terms of productivity), and to the settlement and protection of the population (both physically and spiritually).
The history of Arouca is therefore almost the history of its monastery. There, for many centuries, the people of Arouca lived, worked, prayed and built the identity that we recognise today.