Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Portuguese historical province. For the Capeverdean village see Trãs os Montes

The historical province of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (pron. IPA: [tɾaz-uʃ-'mõtɨʃ i 'aɫtu 'do(ou)ɾu]) is a historical province of Portugal located in the northeastern corner of the country. Presently the region is divided into two districts on the right (northern) bank of the Douro River —Vila Real and Bragança, which are part of the Norte region—, with 5 other municipalities on the south bank of the Douro River included in the districts of Viseu and Guarda, which are part of the Centro region. The name—Beyond-the-Mountains and Upper Douro—refers to the location on the "other" (eastern) side of such mountains as Marão, Alvão and Gerês, which separate the coast from the interior, and along the upper valley of the Douro River. This isolation kept the province poor and underpopulated for centuries, causing many people to emigrate to the coast or to other European countries such as France, Luxembourg or Switzerland.

The most important towns in the region are Vila Real, Bragança, Chaves, Mirandela, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Lamego, Peso da Régua, Miranda do Douro and Valpaços. All are relatively small with less than 50,000 inhabitants. Many people in the region still live in small villages. Traditionally these villages were cut off from the coast due to the lack of good roads, and suffered the effects of poverty and isolation. Immigration was often the only option. Today the situation has improved with better roads, but most villages are still losing population as youngsters there keep moving to bigger towns for better living.

In small villages the aging inhabitants still eke out a living from small farms. Corn, rye, potatoes, wheat, olive oil, chestnuts, and grapes for wine (namely Port wine) have been the main agricultural products. Granite and mineral water are also important industries.

The people of Trás-os-Montes (the "Transmontanos"), perhaps due to the ruggedness of the region, are sometimes stereotyped for their austere habits and laconic speech. Years of hardship have made "it must be" and "that is life" everyday expressions.

There is a popular saying: "Beyond Marão, those who rule are those who're there" ("Para lá do Marão mandam os que lá estão"). Lisbon has paid little attention to this area until recent years. According to Padre Fontes, a local ethnographer, "in this centuries-old "corner of the corner of Europe", alone, in a struggle against the harsh soil and inclement climate, a character was formed: "that of the sad demeanor, the mistrusting air, courageous, daring, hardworking, loyal, and with strength of character a way of life." Etnografia Transmontana, Lisbon, 1992

The Transmontanos are known in Portugal for their often plentiful table, usually filled with wine, olive oil, sausage and bread.

[edit] Municipalities

The Province of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro included 31 municipalities:

District of Vila Real (14 municipalities)
District of Bragança (12 municipalities)
Included in the District of Viseu (4 of 24 municipalities)
Included in the District of Guarda (1 of 14 municipalities)
- Vila Nova de Foz Côa

In 1998 there was a referendum on the creation of new Administrative Regions. The proposed region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro included these 31 municipalities, plus Mêda, also from the District of Guarda. The referendum had low participation (less than the required 50% to be mandatory), but the No won and no Administrative Regions were created.