Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (pron. IPA2|tɾaz-uʒ-'mõtɨʃ i 'aɫtu 'do(ow)ɾu) is a historical province of Portugal located in the northeastern corner of the country.

A first attempt to register its constitution is under the reign of King Sancho II (1223-1248). A second, under his son and successor of, D. Afonso III (1248-1279) under the Inquirições, or royal commissions in 1258, to centralise the territory of Tras-os-Montes on so-called "new towns" under direct control of the Crown. Afonso III (1248-1279) gave charter in 1253, until it was the town, "a hill opposite the Crespos", which already had a core of settlements organized around the Church of St. Facundo.

Presently the region is divided into two districts on the right (northern) bank of the Douro River —Vila Real and Bragança, with 5 other municipalities on the south bank of the Douro River included in the districts of Viseu and Guarda. The name—Beyond-the-Mountains and Upper Douro—refers to the location on the "other" (eastern) side of such mountains as Marão, Alvão and Gerês, which separate the coast from the interior, and along the upper valley of the Douro River. This isolation kept the province poor and underpopulated for centuries, causing many people to emigrate to the coast or to other European countries such as France, Luxembourg or Switzerland.

The most important towns in the region are Vila Real, Bragança, Chaves, Mirandela, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Lamego, Peso da Régua, Miranda do Douro and Valpaços. All are relatively small with less than 50,000 inhabitants. Many people in the region still live in small villages. Traditionally these villages were cut off from the coast due to the lack of good roads, and suffered the effects of poverty and isolation. Immigration was often the only option. Today the situation has improved with better roads, but most villages are still losing population as youngsters there keep moving to bigger towns for better living.

In small villages the aging inhabitants still eke out a living from small farms. Corn, rye, potatoes, wheat, olive oil, chestnuts, and grapes for wine (namely Port wine) have been the main agricultural products. Granite and mineral water are also important industries.

There is a popular saying: "Beyond Marão, those who rule are those who're there" ("Para lá do Marão mandam os que lá estão"). Lisbon has paid little attention to this area until recent years. According to Padre Fontes, a local ethnographer, "in this centuries-old "corner of the corner of Europe", alone, in a struggle against the harsh soil and inclement climate, a character was formed: "that of the sad demeanor, the mistrusting air, courageous, daring, hardworking, loyal, and with strength of character a way of life." "Etnografia Transmontana, Lisbon, 1992"

The Transmontanos are known in Portugal for their often plentiful table, usually filled with wine, olive oil, sausage and bread.

Municipalities

The Province of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro included 31 municipalities:
*District of Vila Real (14 municipalities)
** Alijó
** Boticas
** Chaves
** Mesão Frio
** Mondim de Basto
** Montalegre
** Murça
** Peso da Régua
** Ribeira de Pena
** Sabrosa
** Santa Marta de Penaguião
** Valpaços
** Vila Pouca de Aguiar
** Vila Real
*District of Bragança (12 municipalities)
** Alfândega da Fé
** Bragança
** Carrazeda de Ansiães
** Freixo de Espada-à-Cinta
** Macedo de Cavaleiros
** Miranda do Douro
** Mirandela
** Mogadouro
** Torre de Moncorvo
** Vila Flor
** Vimioso
** Vinhais
*Included in the District of Viseu (4 of 24 municipalities)
** Armamar
** Lamego
** São João da Pesqueira
** Tabuaço
*Included in the District of Guarda (1 of 14 municipalities)
** Vila Nova de Foz Côa

In 1998 there was a referendum on the creation of new Administrative Regions. The proposed region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro included these 31 municipalities, plus Mêda, also from the District of Guarda. The referendum had low participation (less than the required 50% to be mandatory), but the No won and no Administrative Regions were created.

ee also

*Tras-os-Montes VR

External links

* [http://www.trasosmontes.com/ Portal de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro]