Ourique Municipality
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Ourique is a small town ( Vila ) and a circle ( concelho ) in Portugal with 2873 inhabitants (as at 30 June 2011).
History
The evidence of human presence in what is now the district lead back to the Paleolithic. As a founding date of this location is usually indicated 711 when the Moors invaded the Iberian peninsula and founded a settlement here. In 1139, the Battle of Ourique took place probably here. This victory of the later first king of Portugal, D.Afonso Henriques, over the Arabs was a crucial step towards the independence of the Kingdom of Portugal. However, is it difficult to determine whether the battle was actually fought in this Ourique.
King D.Dinis gave Ourique in 1290 its first town charter ( Foral ), the King Manuel I in 1510 renewed.
Culture and sights
Among the numerous monuments of the town include several public buildings, historic houses and religious buildings, including the pilgrimage church Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Cola. The single-nave Baroque church from the 17th century has altarpieces and two steeples. The excavations of the Islamic Castelo de Cola (also Castro de Cola and Cidade Marrachique ), which goes back to an Iron Age hill fort, is protected.
The male choir Grupo Coral de Ourique was founded in 1947 and appeared with his repertoire of the typical song of the Alentejo, the Alentejo Cante, even internationally (Belgium, France). After the founding of the Portuguese television RTP in 1957 it was the first choir, who appeared on television in the country.
Management
Circle Ourique
Ourique is the administrative seat of the homonymous district. The neighboring districts are (clockwise starting from the north ): Santiago do Cacém, Aljustrel, Castro Verde, Almodôvar, Silves and Odemira.
The following parishes ( freguesias ) lying in circle Ourique:
- Conceição
- Garvão
- Ourique
- Panóias
- Santa Luzia
- Santana da Serra