Aldeia de Soajo is a parish in Vila de Arcos de Valdevez, district of Viana do Castelo, North region and sub-region of Alto Minho, being the seat of the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez
The parish of Soajo, located in the mountainous area of Alto Minho, constitutes one of the main gateways to the country via the Orenais border of Galicia, which is limited by the Castro Laboreiro river.
Its territory has an area of 59.1 km2 to the North with the Parishes of Gavieira, Cabreiro (Arcos de Valdevez) and Castro Laboreiro (Melgaço), to the East with Spain, to the South Parishes of Lindoso, Britelo (Ponte da Barca) and Ermelo (Arcos de Valdevez), to the West Parishes of Gondoriz, Cabana Maior and Vale (Arcos de Valdevez).
Soajo is relatively close to urban centers such as Viana do Castelo, Braga and Porto, which are 40 km, 35 km and 90 km away from Arcos de Valdevez, respectively.
Soajo is a parish that was classified as a predominantly rural area and made up of many places that can be grouped according to their distance from the central “core”.
Thus, close to this “core”, there are the places of Bairros, Carreiras, Costa Velha, Cruzeiros, Eiró, Fraga da Mó, Lage, Raposeira, Rio Bom, Teso, Torre, Coucieiro, Fontelas, Veiga and Aqui Del Rei;
Far from the central “core” are Adrão, Cunhas, Paradela, Várzea, Vilar de Suente, Vilarinho das Quartas and Campo Grande.
The Parish area has steep slopes, with small patches of low slope where the existing soils have greater agricultural suitability, an intense hydrological network, characterized by the existence of several water lines that constitute tributaries of the Lima River.
Its territory has an area of 59.1 km2 to the North with the Parishes of Gavieira, Cabreiro (Arcos de Valdevez) and Castro Laboreiro (Melgaço), to the East with Spain, to the South Parishes of Lindoso, Britelo (Ponte da Barca) and Ermelo (Arcos de Valdevez), to the West Parishes of Gondoriz, Cabana Maior and Vale (Arcos de Valdevez).
Soajo is relatively close to urban centers such as Viana do Castelo, Braga and Porto, which are 40 km, 35 km and 90 km away from Arcos de Valdevez, respectively.
Soajo is a parish that was classified as a predominantly rural area and made up of many places that can be grouped according to their distance from the central “core”.
Thus, close to this “core”, there are the places of Bairros, Carreiras, Costa Velha, Cruzeiros, Eiró, Fraga da Mó, Lage, Raposeira, Rio Bom, Teso, Torre, Coucieiro, Fontelas, Veiga and Aqui Del Rei;
Far from the central “core” are Adrão, Cunhas, Paradela, Várzea, Vilar de Suente, Vilarinho das Quartas and Campo Grande.
The Parish area has steep slopes, with small patches of low slope where the existing soils have greater agricultural suitability, an intense hydrological network, characterized by the existence of several water lines that constitute tributaries of the Lima River.
History of Aldeia do Soajo
In the Soajo region, the Gião Rupestre Sanctuary stands out, the Serra do Soajo and the countless Antas and Mamoas are some of the countless documentary landmarks.
The first written document dates back to 950 and refers to the sharing of assets between Countess Mumadona Dias and her descendants.
The Municipality of Soajo is mentioned in the General Inquiries of 1258, ordered by D. Afonso III, the Rol dos Besteiros dated from the reign of D. Afonso III or D. Dinis makes reference to the Judge of Soajo.
In the Chancery of D. Dinis (1279-1325) in Torre do Tombo there is the document relating to the solution of a dispute that occurred in the Municipality of Soajo.
At the beginning of the reign of D. João I (1383-1433), the abbot of the Parish of Ermelo, then Municipality of Soajo, addressed the king stating: «The Monastery of Ermelo was built by D. Teresa, in the Court of Soajo.
In the year 1401, D. João I banned the nobles, in obedience to what was in the past, from living on the land and in the Court of Soajo at the request of the councilors of the Municipal Council of Soajo.
In the year 1456, the Council of Soajo took a position on matters relating to the taxation of goods sold at the Valdevez fair.
In the historical archives of the village of Soajo, its foundation dates back to the 1st century, but it was only in October 1514 that it obtained the Charter from D. Manuel I (1495-1521) and at that time the Municipality of Soajo covered the Parishes of Ermelo and Gavieira.
Soajo was a town and county seat between 1514 and the mid-19th century and was made up of the parishes of Ermelo, Gavieira and Soajo.
In the Restoration wars, the people of the Municipality of Soajo took an active part near the Castle of Lindos, fighting heroically for the Restoration of Portugal's second independence, according to the document published in Subsídios para a História da Terra da Nóbrega e Concelho de Ponte da Barca, authored by Professor Avelino de Jesus Costa.
The orographic complex in the northeast region between the Minho and Lima rivers was particularly cherished by the first kings of Portugal, as one of the first mounts in Portugal was established there.
The Royal Mount was created over this mountain and exercised jurisdiction over it until 1831, by Monteiro-Mor, assisted by Monteiros-Menores.
The area for many centuries was protected in terms of fauna and flora, by the superior management and supervision of the royal representative, Monteiro-Mor.
Until 1861, the date of publication of the Carta Entre Douro e Minho by General Nicolau Traut, the mountainous space was called Serra de Soajo and the main activity of the inhabitants of the region was hunting, known as “monteiros” and the main species captured were bears, wild boars, wild goats, wolves and foxes.
In the documents existing in Torre do Tombo it is noted that the Monteiros do Soajo enjoyed unique privileges compared to the other Coutadas and Royal Montarias due to their strategic situation and their natural beauty.
Documents dated from the beginning of the 17th century already refer to Soajo as a Village, assuming that this category results from the erection of the Pelourinho according to the rules existing in the chancellery of D. Afonso V.
The parish is located in a characteristically rustic region, its streets paved with granite slabs and houses built with granite blocks still constitute a reality in Soajo.
Community life has always been very important in this village until about a century ago and Soajo had a judge elected by the people.
In 1801 it had 2054 inhabitants and in 1849 it had 3159 inhabitants and was re-elevated to the category of Town on June 12, 2009.
The first written document dates back to 950 and refers to the sharing of assets between Countess Mumadona Dias and her descendants.
The Municipality of Soajo is mentioned in the General Inquiries of 1258, ordered by D. Afonso III, the Rol dos Besteiros dated from the reign of D. Afonso III or D. Dinis makes reference to the Judge of Soajo.
In the Chancery of D. Dinis (1279-1325) in Torre do Tombo there is the document relating to the solution of a dispute that occurred in the Municipality of Soajo.
At the beginning of the reign of D. João I (1383-1433), the abbot of the Parish of Ermelo, then Municipality of Soajo, addressed the king stating: «The Monastery of Ermelo was built by D. Teresa, in the Court of Soajo.
In the year 1401, D. João I banned the nobles, in obedience to what was in the past, from living on the land and in the Court of Soajo at the request of the councilors of the Municipal Council of Soajo.
In the year 1456, the Council of Soajo took a position on matters relating to the taxation of goods sold at the Valdevez fair.
In the historical archives of the village of Soajo, its foundation dates back to the 1st century, but it was only in October 1514 that it obtained the Charter from D. Manuel I (1495-1521) and at that time the Municipality of Soajo covered the Parishes of Ermelo and Gavieira.
Soajo was a town and county seat between 1514 and the mid-19th century and was made up of the parishes of Ermelo, Gavieira and Soajo.
In the Restoration wars, the people of the Municipality of Soajo took an active part near the Castle of Lindos, fighting heroically for the Restoration of Portugal's second independence, according to the document published in Subsídios para a História da Terra da Nóbrega e Concelho de Ponte da Barca, authored by Professor Avelino de Jesus Costa.
The orographic complex in the northeast region between the Minho and Lima rivers was particularly cherished by the first kings of Portugal, as one of the first mounts in Portugal was established there.
The Royal Mount was created over this mountain and exercised jurisdiction over it until 1831, by Monteiro-Mor, assisted by Monteiros-Menores.
The area for many centuries was protected in terms of fauna and flora, by the superior management and supervision of the royal representative, Monteiro-Mor.
Until 1861, the date of publication of the Carta Entre Douro e Minho by General Nicolau Traut, the mountainous space was called Serra de Soajo and the main activity of the inhabitants of the region was hunting, known as “monteiros” and the main species captured were bears, wild boars, wild goats, wolves and foxes.
In the documents existing in Torre do Tombo it is noted that the Monteiros do Soajo enjoyed unique privileges compared to the other Coutadas and Royal Montarias due to their strategic situation and their natural beauty.
Documents dated from the beginning of the 17th century already refer to Soajo as a Village, assuming that this category results from the erection of the Pelourinho according to the rules existing in the chancellery of D. Afonso V.
The parish is located in a characteristically rustic region, its streets paved with granite slabs and houses built with granite blocks still constitute a reality in Soajo.
Community life has always been very important in this village until about a century ago and Soajo had a judge elected by the people.
In 1801 it had 2054 inhabitants and in 1849 it had 3159 inhabitants and was re-elevated to the category of Town on June 12, 2009.
