Candal
Located in the heart of the Massif, the county of Candal is split into three locations: Candal, Póvoa das Leiras and Coelheira, placing the latter above 900m of altitude and surmounting what geographers call a “valley cradle” with a large area and almost flat land for cultivation, the highest part of this valley.
As many as Candal, Póvoa das Leiras, is located on slopes that beneath the village of Candal, also on top form large piles of staircases, beautiful landscape and effect today as the subject of intensive cultivation.
The more precise documentary references to this territory date back to the 9th Century. The territory was in town and features organized in units of agricultural exploitation ( “villas”) spread across the valley areas, under the guise of eminent castro-Casteleja. It is known that in the reign of King Dionysius the municipality of São Pedro do Sul was grouped under the designating Lafões, appearing at enrollment of general tax notaries of the whole kingdom established in 1287-90, including the Bishop of Viseu and three notaries, among Trancoso (four , which was the maximum) and Viseu (with two).
According to the Encyclopedia and Brazilian Portuguese, the origin of the name Candal is connected to a word more remote candaal, which in turn comes from Candalal or Candanal, deriving the latter from Cando meaning rocky place, sloping. In fact this definition is against the morphology of the site that has many hills. Since ancient times, have existed traces of population in the region, as evidenced by existing hill nearby. There are still some vestiges of a Roman settlement on these lands. On April 3, 1952 was found by Mr. Manuel Cristóvão de Pinho a tomb at the Lombo do Burgo. The coffin was 1.70 meters of ballast stones and two side cover. One of the stones that had the inscription: LVALCA MRAS VSAR COBRIC ENSISI! ICS. EST., Is now vested in the Museum of Belem in Lisbon. Another vestige of the passage of the Romans was the discovery of an arrow of copper in 1943 in Vala Large Cabreiros, which is thought to be of Roman origin.
A document from 1257 was located in the land of Candal Alafões. In 1527 Candal was part of the parish of oak, with eight residents in Candal, four in Póvoa the Leiras and four in Coelheira. Out of curiosity, we mention the existence in the district of Viseu’s oldest book seats baptisms, dated 1626. In the book of deaths dating back to 1698, we read a note made by Healing Father Marcos de Abreu stating that there was already a cleric natural Candal, “Setembro the seventh day of 1698 started from the menu for the soul of Domingos de Carvalho, son of Stephen John, Candal, because they say he died in parts of Galicia, from Rome to his home, he went to seek holy orders in Rome and most other comrades who came to their homes and said Domingos de Carvalho was the way sick and mistreated … ”
In 1896 Candal was annexed to the parish of Covelo de Paiva, after getting their independence.
One of the legends that inhabit the imagination of the population is “the legend of the pot of gold” that advocates the experience of the Moors in this parish. This tells us that a woman was picking up manure in Cudessal (between Candal and Póvoa) for their animals. How was the heat, stood in the shade of a huge stone. Incidentally began to stick to stone with his sickle and as if by magic acts came to him a pan lid. Underneath the pot excavated in the rock, containing much gold. The woman gathered up all the gold and went home. Along the way he heard a voice that told him not to look back. The woman did not comply with the recommendation and passed away when I got home. The veracity of the legend can not be confirmed, but the pot excavated in the rock even exists.
This village Candal, were also explored for tungsten mines during World War 2: Cavada of Bronze, and Chãs Fraguinha.
The High of Chase and the highest point of the Massif, with 1119m., Is in part of this parish with that of Manhouce.
The Coelheira is one of the villages of the Massif’s highest, its cultivated area is quite extensive.
This is a small tourist complex, where a campsite covers part of the huge forest of birch and has around a small reservoir that is a large pool. Next to this, there is a house that can take on lease for short periods.
At the headquarters of the parish, there are still plenty of houses built with traditional materials, and also frequent sets, haystack canastro – floor with very typical.
The Mother Church is a temple around the stone, rebuilt in the century. XVIII.
[in "The Mass Gralheira" Mário de Araújo Magalhães Ribeiro, edition of the City of Arouca and site of the Council of Candal]
Geographical coordinate:
40° 51′ 10.73″ N, 8° 10′ 42.71″ W
