Janeiro de Baixo is a Portuguese parish in the municipality of Pampilhosa da Serra, with an area of 40.54 km² and 533 inhabitants (2021 census). Its population density is 13.1 inhabitants/km².
History
The parish of Janeiro de Baixo is located in the south of the municipality, next to the Zêzere river, bordering the municipalities of Fundão and Oleiros. He was commended by the Order of Christ and belonged to the royal patronage commendations. In 1600 it was valued at 100 thousand réis, in 1882 it ceased to belong to the diocese of Guarda and became that of Coimbra and in 1885 it passed from the municipality of Fajão to that of Pampilhosa da Serra.
Currently the parish consists of the places of: Brejo de Baixo, Brejo de Cima, Casal da Lapa, Esteiro, Janeiro de Baixo, Machialinho, Porto de Vacas, Safra, Souto do Brejo and Vale de Abutre.
Patrimony
Parish Church of Janeiro de Baixo or Church of S. Domingos (main church) - The temple is located at the entrance to the village and is preceded by a churchyard. The door on the main façade has a curved lintel, dominated by a lintel window. The tower is attached on the right side and has a pyramidal finish. On each flank a door is torn. Inside, the altarpieces (main and collaterals) stand out, dating from the 17th/18th centuries, made of wood with arches, twisted columns and covered in pommels. The head of the church is Saint Dominic, whose feast day takes place in August.
Chapels - In addition to the Main Church, Janeiro de Baixo has two chapels: Santo Cristo and S. Sebastião. It is a tradition in the parish to hold a Bodo next to the Chapel of S. Sebastião, on January 20th of each year. The Easter Visit with the collection of folar and the procession in praise of Divino Espírito Santo are other manifestations of the religiosity of the inhabitants of this parish.
Esteiro Hydroelectric Power Station - This small power station is located next to the Zêzere, making use of the water reserve of the Santa Luzia Dam
Talasnal is a mountain village in Serra da Lousã, located in the municipality of Lousã, parish of Lousã and Vilarinho. The village is integrated into the Schist Villages Network and is part of the list of Serra da Lousã Site of Community Importance — Natura 2000 Network. It is part of the Union of parishes of Lousã and Vilarinho.
Characterization
Regarding the urban plan, it is worth highlighting the alminha located on the main street and two olive oil mills; there was a school that closed in 1975 with just two students, the school was opened again in 2015 thanks to a partnership between the Chamber of Lousã and the Lousã Cooperation Association; It was progressively abandoned after its heyday in 1911 until it only had two inhabitants in 1981, recently the village is gradually experiencing restoration and repopulation.
Location
Talasnal is located on the western slope of the mountain, within the Ribeira de São João river basin, more specifically it is located on a slope facing north and is arranged following a fest that rushes to the end of the valley, the village is located at an altitude of 500 m. It is 12 km to Lousã.
History
It is thought that the founding of this village, as well as those surrounding it, must have taken place somewhere in the second half of the 17th century or the beginning of the 18th century. This conclusion is reached because the Kingdom's Population Registry (1527) makes no mention of some to these villages, which suggests that until the people settled, the occupation would be carried out by shepherds in the spring and summer seasons. The first reference to Talasnal comes from a fine executed by the Chamber of Lousã in 1679.
Fauna and Flora
The Ribeira da Vergada passes close to the village, the mountain inhabitants used this water to irrigate and boost the mechanisms of the mills. The mountain fauna is essentially made up of roe deer, deer, wild boar and many other animals; the flora is mainly composed of cork oaks, oaks, pines and chestnut trees.
