Belver (Gavião)

Belver
Parish

A view of the old town and the medieval Castle of Belver

Coat of arms
Belver
Coordinates: 39°29′42″N 7°57′32″W / 39.495°N 7.959°W / 39.495; -7.959Coordinates: 39°29′42″N 7°57′32″W / 39.495°N 7.959°W / 39.495; -7.959
Country Portugal
Region Alentejo
Subregion Alto Alentejo
Intermunic. comm. Alto Alentejo
District Portalegre
Municipality Gavião
Area
 • Total 69.84 km2 (26.97 sq mi)
Elevation 230 m (750 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 684
 • Density 9.8/km2 (25/sq mi)
Postal code 6040
Area code 241
Patron Nossa Senhora da Visitação
Website http://www.jf-belver.pt/

Belver is a Portuguese civil parish in the municipality of Gavião, district of Portalegre. The population in 2011 was 684,[1] in an area of 69.84 km².[2] It is situated along the northern bank of the Tagus River.

History

The keep tower of the Castle of Belver, constructed by the Knights Hospitaller

On 13 June 1194, the region of Belver was donated by King Sancho I of Portugal to the Knights Hospitaller, with the condition that the knights were required to build a castle in the site.[3]

Between 1383 and 1385, Belver aligned itself with the forces of Leonor Telles de Menezes against the Master of Avis.[3]

In the 16th century, the parochial church was constructed. On 18 May 1518, King Manuel I of Portugal conceded a foral (charter) to Belver.[3]

In the 17th century, the village was surveyed by Pedro Nunes Tinoco, and determined to be under the authority of the Priory of Crato.[3]

In 1836, the municipality of Belver was extinguished and the region was integrated into the municipality of Mação.[3] This remained in effect until the end of the century, when in 1898 it was integrated into the municipality of Gavião.[3]

In 1905 a bridge was completed over the Ribeira de Belver.[3]

Geography

Belver is the northern-most civil parish of the municipality, and the only on the northern margin of the Tagus River (the remaining parishes of Gavião are on lands south of the Tagus). It is bordered by Gavião and Atalaia parishes (in the south), while surrounded by the parishes of Envendos, Mação and Ortiga (in the neighbouring municipality of Mação) to the northeast, north and northwest, respectively). It is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the urban centre of Gavião along the left margin of the Tagus.

The parish is situated in river valley, 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the right margin of the Tagus River, along the confluence of the Ribeira de Belver.[3] Its highest elevation is occupied by the 150 metres (490 ft) hilltop surmounted by the Castle of Belver, while the urban area is 125 metres (410 ft) above sea level. Surrounding these hilltops are several olive orchards.[3]

It is accessible by rail-link (the Beira Baixa railway), with its stop in the city centre. Alternatively, the main access is along the A23/IP6/E806 motorway (Auto-Estrada da Beira-Interior), passing through the northern part of the parish, then 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) south to the Tagus basin.

Architecture

The parochial Church of Nossa Senhora da Visitação

Archaeological

Civic

Military

Religious

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Census 2011 results according to the 2013 administrative division of Portugal
  2. ↑ Direção-Geral do Território
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Costa, Anouk (2011). SIPA, ed. "Núcleo urbano da povoação de Belver/Aldeia de Belver (PT041209020010)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  4. ↑ Gordalina, Rosário (1991). SIPA, ed. "Anta do Penedo Gordo (PT041209020003)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  5. 1 2 Camara, Teresa (2004). SIPA, ed. "Barragem do Belver (PT041209020009)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Figueiredo, Paula (2010). SIPA, ed. "Fonte Velha em Degracia (PT041209020013)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  7. ↑ Gordalina, Rosário; Bucho, Domingos (1998). SIPA, ed. "Castelo de Belver (PT041209020001)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. ↑ Mantas, Helena; Gama, Marta (2001). SIPA, ed. "Capela de São Brás (PT041209020006)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  9. ↑ Gordalina, Rosário (2002). SIPA, ed. "Igreja Paroquial de Belver/Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Visitação (PT041209020008)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  10. ↑ Gordalina, Rosário; Macedo, Sousa (1999). SIPA, ed. "Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Pilar (PT041209020004)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
Sources
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