Montemor-o-Velho
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Template: Infobox city in Portugal / maintenance / management location is empty Template: Infobox city in Portugal / Maintenance / Web page is blank Montemor -o -Velho is a small town ( Vila ) in Portugal, it is located about halfway between Figueira da Foz and Coimbra. In the Middle Ages the town, which lies on a hill on the right bank of the Mondego, a strategic defense post against the Moors, who advanced from the Estremadura against Coimbra. Today it is known as a sport of rowing base especially internationally, the theater festival CITEMOR and the medieval market are known nationwide.
History
Not far from the archaeological site of Santa Olaia, the traces of human settlement date back to the Iron Age. Some historians believe the place had been called 400/500 BC Miróbriga and was therefore one of the oldest villages on the Iberian Peninsula. Others say it was the Arcedóbriga or Acedóbriga, which was renamed from his Lord Manlio in Manlianense. Are busy trade contacts with the Phoenicians and Carthage. In Montemor -o -Velho ( " Monte - mor ," dt " Higher Hill" ) were found the remains of a Roman villa rustica and a Jupiter column, to tombs and coins from the 4th century
With the conquest of large parts of the Iberian Peninsula from 711 the Moors came to the then important port of river navigation on the Mondego. They called the place Munt Malur. 848 it was conquered by Christians for the first time, by the King Ramiro I. The location resisted taking place in the same year siege by the troops of Abd ar - Rahman II from. Alfonso III. 878 conquered Coimbra and went to the settlement along the river bank on. On December 2, 990 Almansor recaptured the fortifications of Montemor. After a renewed reclaiming the place in 1026 fell again to the Arabs, which Gonçalo Trastamires 1034 took it off again. After repeated Arab attacks Fernando Magno Coimbra and rear conquer the entire area up to the Mondego final and Montemor Sesnando Davide could a Mozarabs from Tentúgal passed. 1091 the place was known as Montemaior, and Raimundo I. ordered his 1095 increased colonization of, now part of a defense line against the Moors along the border river Mondego. King Sancho I called Montemor 1203 in Montemor -o -Velho ( " Montemor the Elder" ) to, in contrast to the conquered from the Moors village Montemor -o -Novo ( " Montemor the recent ") in the Alentejo.
On January 6, 1355 met in the Castle of Montemor -o -Velho, the king Alfonso IV the tragic decision to kill Inês de Castro.
After the introduction of the arrived from America corn mid-16th century gave its cultivation in the fields by the river the place a 200 -year-long economic boom, in whose time also the work of the most famous sons of the city falls (see " sons and daughters of the city "). Then Montemor lost its importance, especially in favor of Figueira da Foz. The introduction of rice cultivation in the early 19th century provided a new economic boom.
Sights and culture
The castle Castelo de Montemor -o -Velho, with its Manueline church Igreja de Santa Maria da Alcáçova and completely encircling, double and crenellated walls are worth seeing and also offer expansive views over the rice fields and landscapes along the Mondego. Below the castle run narrow streets, lined with gardens and orange trees.
The former market hall on the main square houses a modern art gallery.
Located on the outskirts of the monastery church of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos offers its Renaissance chapels a remarkable tomb of the sailor Diogo de Azambuja.
In the protected area Reserva Natural do Paul de Arzila teaching and hiking paths traverse the wetland and its tree stands, and bird sanctuary migratory birds wintering Paul do Taipal can be observed in guides. These are two of the few remaining areas of the local primeval landscape.
Since 1978, every year in the summer, in the castle and all over the place, the international theater festival CITEMOR with great cultural program instead. One of the main organizers of the CITEC, the most important theater group of the place, which is native (founded in 1883) in the local theater " Esther de Carvalho ". The castle also the medieval market Montemor Mediaval is organized.
Annually on 8 September, the municipal holiday, the Feira Anual or the Feira Cebolas, the " onion market " instead. It is a combination of industrial and agricultural fair, Gastronomy show and festival.
Every 2 weeks there is a weekly market since at least 80 years.
Policy
In the local elections of 2013, the Socialist Party (PS ) won back the town hall of Montemor -o -Velho with 40.5%. The earlier ruling PSD / CDS coalition fell back to 36%, the joint list of the Communist Party (PCP ) and the Greens ( PEV ) was 11.1%, the environment and agricultural Partido da Terra (MPT) came to 4, 1%, and the Left block Bloco de Esquerda (BE) to 2%.
The City Council of Montemor -o -Velho has been since 1976, the first municipal election after the Carnation Revolution in 1974, governed mainly by the PS. 1989 won the PSD the Town Hall, in 1993 they lost to the PS, and won again in coalition with the CDS in 2001 and held it until 2013.
Management
Circle
Montemor -o -Velho is the seat of an eponymous district ( concelho ) in the district of Coimbra, with relevant bodies ( county government, hospital, fire, Guarda Nacional Republicana, school center, banks, industrial area ). June 30, 2011 had the circle 26,214 inhabitants in an area of 229 km ².
The neighboring districts are (clockwise starting from the north ): Cantanhede, Coimbra, Condeixa -a-Nova, Soure and Figueira da Foz.
The following municipalities ( Freguesias ) are in Montemor -o -Velho district:
- Abrunheira
- Arazede
- Carapinheira
- Ereira
- Gatões
- Liceia
- MEAs do Campo
- Montemor -o -Velho
- Pereira
- Santo Varão
- Seixo de Gatões
- Tentúgal
- Verride
- Vila Nova da Barca
Demographics
Local holiday
Twin Cities
- France France: Cerizay in Deux-Sevres (since 1988)
- Portugal: Vila Real de Santo António (since 1994)
- Brazil Brazil: São José dos Pinhais (since 1997)
Traffic
The train station just outside Montemor is a stop on the railway line Ramal de Alfarelos.
Bus lines in particular the company Moisés ( Moisés Correia de Oliveira ) ensure the public transport in the county, with connections up to Figueira da Foz and Coimbra.
Sports
The city administration Montemor -o -Velho maintains the power center Centro de Alto Rendimento ( CAR) a major sports base. In particular, the Centro Nautico corresponding with its international standard rowing regatta course to be mentioned. Here, among others, the rudder European Championships 2010 and the Canoe Racing Championships 2013 held. The CAR also includes a track and field facility ( Pista de Atletismo ) and a youth hostel ( Pousada da Juventude ).
Also the Triathlon Federation ( Federação de Triatlo de Portugal) has Montemor -o -Velho his power center ( CAR).
Sons and daughters of the town
- Diogo de Azambuja Cavalheiro (1432-1518), navigator and first governor ( capitão - mór ) of Elmina.
- Fernão Mendes Pinto (1510-1583), explorer, he traveled to Arabia Africa, China, India and came to Japan, as a writer, he described in great detail his travels.
- Jorge de Montemor ( 1520/24-1561 ), singer, translator and poet in the travel Chapel of the later King Philip II, inventor of the Castilian pastoral romance and pastoral poems that were influential throughout Europe.
- João de São José († 1580), abbot and author
- António Correia da Fonseca e Andrade (1648-1717) capitão - mór Montemor -o -Velho, an important historian
- Francisco de Pina e Melo (1695-1773), Catholic writer and poet
- Esther de Carvalho (1858-1884), actress and director
- Manuel Jardim (1883-1923), painter
- Afonso Duarte (1884-1958), writer
- António Rama (1944-2013), actor