A dos Francos

A dos Francos
Civil parish

Coat of arms
A dos Francos
Coordinates: 39°19′23″N 9°02′53″W / 39.323°N 9.048°W / 39.323; -9.048Coordinates: 39°19′23″N 9°02′53″W / 39.323°N 9.048°W / 39.323; -9.048
Country Portugal
Region Centro
Subregion Oeste
Intermunic. comm. Oeste
District Leiria
Municipality Caldas da Rainha
Area
 • Total 18.93 km2 (7.31 sq mi)
Elevation 75 m (246 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 1,701
 • Density 90/km2 (230/sq mi)
Postal code 2500
Area code 262
Patron Nossa Senhora da Graça and São Silvestre

A dos Francos is one of twelve civil parishes (freguesias) in the municipality of Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 1,701,[1] in an area of 18.93 km².[2] It includes the settlements A dos Francos, Broeiras, Carreiros, Casais da Aramanha, Casais da Bica, Casais da Paraventa, Casais de Santa Helena, Casais Gaiolas, Casal da Palmeira, Casal das Cheiras, Casal das Sesmarias, Casal Sobreiro, Casal Pinheiro, Casal Val Covo, Salgueirinha, Santa Susana and Vila Verde de Matos.

History

The history and toponymy of this parish can be traced back to the French; the name, itself, evokes French ownership or dominion of this area. A dos French literally means of the French.[3] In fact, it was Afonso Henriques, who had a hand in its nomenclature; in order to reward mercenary French crusaders who assisted his early campaigns, Afonso Henriques distributed some lands along the margins of the Tagus, living behind names that only hint at French influence, including Vila Franca and A dos Francos.[3]

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit was constructed by the Crusaders during the 12th century, who fell within the territorial influence of Óbidos.[4]

These foreign colonies including those in the Estremadura were favored by King Sancho, who also received complimentary immigrants from Flanders, who populated the northern parts of the Tagus.

In 1747, the population of this village included twelve homes.[5] By 1853, the parish had amassed a small cluster of 101 homes.[6]

Architecture

Civic

  • Carriage Post/Station of Casal dos Carreiros (Portuguese: Estação da Mala-Posta do Casal dos Carreiros), constructed in the 19th century, accompanying the building of the Lisbon-Porto carriage traffic, this building served as a hostel for travellers, serving meals and providing sleeping spaces and fireplace for use in the winter months[7]

Religious

  • Chapel of the Holy Spirit (Portuguese: Capela do Espiríto Santo), an eclectic chapel, that was originally constructed by French crusader knights, who inhabited and populated the region;[4]
  • Church of São Silvestre (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de A dos Francos/Igreja de São Silvestre), the 18th century church was constructed in the Baroque style, and includes elaborate gilded wood alterpeice and retable, and singular belfrey, typical of the Portuguese small parish churches of the time;[8]
  • Hermitage of Vila Verde do Mato (Portuguese: Ermida de Vila Verde do Mato), the partially ruined hermitage, constructed in the 17th century, is remarkable for the remnants of decorative polychromatic ocre alterpeice, and construction in the Mannerist architecture of the period.[9]

Villages

  • Broeiras
  • Vila Verde de Matos
  • Salgueirinha
  • Casal Sobreiro
  • Carreiros
  • Casais de Santa Helena
  • Casais da Paraventa
  • Santa Susana
  • Casais da Aramanha
  • Casais da Bica
  • Casais Gaiolas
  • Casal Pinheiro
  • Casal das Sesmarias
  • Casal das Cheiras
  • Casal da Palmeira
  • Casal Val Covo

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Instituto Nacional de Estatística
  2. ↑ Direção-Geral do Território
  3. 1 2 Secretariado da Propaganda Nacional (1966), p.146
  4. 1 2 Perdigão, Lurdes (1997). SIPA, ed. "Capela do Espírito Santo (n.PT031006010029)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  5. ↑ Luís Cardoso (1747), p.55
  6. ↑ Pedro José Marques (1853), p.5
  7. ↑ Mendonça, Isabel (1992). SIPA, ed. "Estação da Mala-Posta do Casal dos Carreiros (n.PT031006010003)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  8. ↑ Perdigão, Lurdes (1997). SIPA, ed. "Igreja Paroquial de A dos Francos/Igreja de São Silvestre (n.PT031006010024)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Perdigão, Lurdes (1997). SIPA, ed. "Ermida de Vila Verde de Mato (n.PT031006010031)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  • Cardoso, Luis (1747), Diccionario geografico, ou Noticia historica de todas as cidades, villas, lugares e aldeas ... dos reynos de Portugal e Algarve... (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Officina Sylviana da Academia Real, p. 55
  • Marques, Pedro José (1853), Diccionario geographico abbreviado das oito provincias dos reinos de Portugal e Algarves com a designaçaõ dos concelhos, comarcas, districtos, etc: Seguido de interessantes noticias corograficas e historicas. (in Portuguese), Porto, Portugal, p. 3
  • Panorama (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Secretariado da Propaganda Nacional, 1966
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