Aveleda (Bragança)

Aveleda is a former freguesia ("civil parish") in the municipality of Bragança, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Aveleda e Rio de Onor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The population in 2011 was 196,<ref>Instituto Nacional de Estatística</ref> in an area of 62.20 km².<ref>Eurostat Template:Webarchive</ref> It is situated close to the northern border with Spain.

History

The parish of Aveleda derives its name from the village, whose toponymy has a number of significances. For one, there is the Roman interpretation, derived from the Roman Avé Leda, which means beautiful place,<ref name="CMHistoria">Template:Citation</ref> while others assume that the name was derived from Veleda, a venerated Visigothic or Suebic priest of the 4th century.<ref name=CMHistoria/> Another interpretation suggests that the name was derived from ave feliz.<ref name=CMHistoria/>

What is certain, is that this name only appeared during the 1250 Inquirições of Afonso III. This is because the area around Aveleda was under the protection of Spanish monasteries of Moreirola and San Martin de Castanheda.<ref name=CMHistoria/> It was there that the celebrated Abbott of Baçal was parish priest (between 1896 and 1910), always travelling by foot and complying a dossier of his thoughts in Memórias Arqueológico: Históricas do Distrito de Bragança, a twelve-tome work detailing the municipal history.<ref name=CMHistoria/> In this case, he referred specifically to the village of Varge (on the southern perimeter of Aveleda), which was derived from varzena or varcena, a medieval term to designate artificial or natural low wetlands.<ref name=CMHistoria/> The wells in this area are also referred to by the local peoples as varja or varjas, literally fish traps.<ref name=CMHistoria/><ref>Francisco Manuel Alves (2000), p.166</ref>

The Matriz Church, on a slight elevation, dates back to the 18th century.<ref name=CMHistoria/>

The bridge that crosses the Pepim River in Aveleda, constructed on stone, was completed in 1952.

Geography

Aveleda is located along the Portuguese-Spanish border within the Parque Natural de Montesinho (Montesinho Natural Park), three kilometres northeast of the municipal seat of Bragança.

It is characterized by hills and river-valleys, along a plateau with an average of 500 metres altitude. It is crossed by two water courses that flow from north to south: the Ribeira das Igrejas, which crosses the village of Varge, and the Ribeira de Pepim, which intersects the village of Aveleda.<ref name=CMHistoria/> Both ravines spring from the Serra de Pedralba, crossing from Spain, and flow as tributaries of the Sabor River.

Architecture

There are several vestiges of historical architecture and rural constructions in this parish, that include: the two main historical springs/wells (Fonte da Pinela and Fonte d'Aldeia), which were subterranean channels of potable water; watermills and ancient blacksmith's forge.<ref name=CMHistoria/> The following were classified by IGESPAR as national monuments or architecturally significant heritage:

Civic

• Fountain of Pinela (Template:Langx)

Religious

• Church of São Cipriano (Template:Langx), built in the 17th century, the parochial church of Aveleda was directed by the abbey Meixedo, before falling under the administration of Miranda;<ref name="SIPAR1" />
• Church of São Miguel (Template:Langx), a relatively small parish, the church of Varge had little more than 40 parishioners at the time of its institution, during the 17th century;<ref name="SIPAR3">Template:Citation</ref>
• Chapel of São Sebastião (Template:Langx), constructed during the 18th century, the chapel has been a site for pilgrims, first for São Julião, but later Santo Padre (celebrated on 20 January), during the winter seasons. A register of azulejo is located above the main portal.<ref name="SIPAR1">Template:Citation</ref>

References

Sources

• Template:Citation.