Laundos

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Laundos
Coat of arms of Laundos
Parish coat of arms
Municipality Póvoa de Varzim
Area 9.69 km²
Population
 - Total 2,131 (2001)
 - Density 219.9/km²
Website: none
São Félix Hill.
São Félix Hill.

Laundos or Laúndos is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. In the census of 2001, it had a population of 2,131 inhabitants and a total area of 9.69 Km².

The name was first documented in 1033 as Montis Lanutus referring to Saint Félix Hill.

[edit] History

Its arid soil didn’t help in developing an appropriate Castro town like in neighbouring Cividade Hill in the parish of Terroso despite its rise, but a Castro village was raised around the 2nd century BC, probably a north surveillance post of Cividade de Terroso. Ancient Castro jewels were found complete and made its Castro important for the jewel history of North-western Iberian Peninsula.

This is an ancient parish, existing from time immemorial, as it already existed in the 11th century. The parish belonged to Barcelos until 1836, when it was transferred to Póvoa de Varzim.

[edit] Geography

Laundos is located 7.5 km east of downtown Póvoa de Varzim in the extreme point of "Póvoa's league" (Légua da Póvoa); and borders Rates to the east, Estela, Terroso and the municipality of Vila do Conde to the south.

The parish is crowned by São Félix Hill (202 m, 663 ft), the peak of Póvoa de Varzim. Despite the modest rise, the expanse of the plain makes this an easy reference point on the horizon. During the Middle Ages, Saint Félix would have lived and meditated in this hill, the legends says, he found the body of Saint Peter of Rates from it. The São Félix Hill, in fact, is the best site to see the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim as a whole and is often used for that.

[edit] Hamlets

Águas Férreas, Machuqueiras, Laúndos, Recreio, Pé do Monte, Senhora da Saúde, Real, Igreja, and Rapijães.