DISTRICT OF COIMBRA (PORTUGAL): 2020

SCHIST VLLAGES

(ALDEIAS DO XISTO)

The Schist Villages, integrated into the Schist Villages Program, is a project put into practice in 2001 by the Central Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDRC), using community funds through the Central Region Operational Program.

In its initial phase, 24 applications were selected corresponding to an equal number of villages in 14 municipalities in the Central Region (Pinhal Interior Norte and Pinhal Interior Sul). At the moment, 27 villages from 16 municipalities are part of it.

In this set of 27 villages spread across 16 municipalities whose buildings are made of schist, located in 4 main regions; Serra da Lousã, Serra do Açor, Zêzere and Tejo-Ocreza, the majority of villages are found in Serra da Lousã, 12 of them, followed by 6 in the Zêzere area, 5 in the Serra do Açor region and 4 in Tagus-Ocreza.

Objectives

The Schist Villages Network is essentially a sustainable development project, led by ADXTUR (Agency for the Tourist Development of Schist Villages), developed in collaboration between several municipalities and private entities, aiming to promote tourism in this area, creating wealth through offering tourist services in conjunction with the preservation of culture and landscapes, the promotion of traditional arts and crafts, heritage and local products characteristic of the villages that make up the network.

The Schist Village Network is a project with exclusive characteristics linked to the cultural, social and architectural heritage evident in the region, which provides an offer at different levels: traditional hotels, gastronomy, culture, nature, radical activities, entertainment, religion, crafts , among others.

History

There are traces of human presence in the territory of Aldeias do Xisto since prehistoric times, proof of this is the discovery of artefacts dating from the Bronze Age and the cave paintings located in the village of Barroca on the banks of the Zêzere river. Just like in other parts of the Iberian Peninsula; the Romans, the barbarians and the Moors left traces of their presence, for example in topography and architecture. It was only in the medieval era that people settled in mountainous lands. Some villages emerged through the action of religious orders, others through pastoral activities, commerce and even Sarzedas founded by royal decree. From the middle of the 20th century onwards, residents migrated to cities and towns and the villages gradually became deserted. Recently, a process of reconstruction and repopulation has been underway. In recent years, villages have witnessed the rise of mountain biking and the competitions taking place in their territory.

The villages

In the municipality of Arganil: