Águeda

Águeda has been a municipal seat since 1834 and has had official city status since 1985. It was built on a foundation of successive Celt, Turduli and Lusitanian inhabitants since 370 BC.[4]

Ancient occupation of this area dates back to the Bronze Age, marked by diverse megalithic monuments, including the archaeological site at Cabeço do Vouga, an important Roman military fortification along routes from Olissipo (Lisbon) to Bracara Augusta (Braga).[4]

In the 9th century, Águeda was a prosperous borough, with stable commerce and an active port that supported local and regional businesses.[4] It was mentioned in documents from 1050 to 1077, by its primitive name Casal Lousado (Latin: Casāle Lausātum), or by its anglicized forms: Anegia, Agatha and Ágada; by the 9th century, this settlement was referred to as Ágata.[4] In a document dated 1050, there is mention of several villages situated within the current borders, many with names originating from Arab languages.

Águeda never achieved a foral during the Middle Ages, in contrast to its neighbors, it was considered regal lands and dominions of the monasteries of Lorvão and Vacariça.[4] It functioned as an ancillary center on the road to Santiago de Compostela, and the river-side village was most certainly visited by Queen Isabel (S. Elizabeth of Portugal) in 1325, during her customary pilgrimages to the religious center.[4]

A new phase of settlement occurred after the establishment of the Kingdom of Portugal, from the 11th–12th century: although its inhabitants prospered, and had many privileges, their representatives from Aveiro in the Cortes of Évora (1451), never requested a foral declaration.[4] King D. Manuel I included Águeda in a general foral granted to Aveiro, in 1515, but was only, later, provided a separate charter.[4]

In 1834, Águeda ascended to the category of municipal seat, as a consequence of the Portuguese Liberal Revolution, when major administrative reforms were initiated.[4] Its important political place and strategic politico-military position allowed Águeda to support military troops during the second French Invasion, when it functioned as military hospital.[4] Resulting from the administrative reform, Águeda began its political career in the shadow of great change, and many of its citizens were important land reformers.[4] The municipality of Águeda was established on 31 December 1853, and integrated many older concelhos of medieval origins long since extinct, including Aguada de Cima, Castanheira do Vouga and Préstimo.[4]

As a frontier city located between the sea and land, it occupies a privileged position, serviced by both railroads and an expanding road network.[4] These advancements allowed the economic and social development of the region and placed Águeda in an important position, resulting in its growth and development.[4] On 14 August 1985, Águeda was elevated to the category of city by law.

The municipality of Águeda is administratively integrated into the district of Aveiro, in the former region of Beira Litoral; it is located 240 kilometres (149 miles) from Lisbon, 72 kilometres (45 miles) from Porto and 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Aveiro.

Ecoregions/Protected zones

The Pateira de Fermentelos, shortly known as Pateira, is a natural lake located within the triangle of the municipalities of Águeda, Aveiro and Oliveira do Bairro, before the confluence of the Cértima and Águeda rivers. It is the largest natural lake in the Iberian peninsula, rich in diverse species of bird, fish and aquatic plants.

Bateiras (small fishing boats) in Pateira de Fermentelos

Águeda is twinned with:[10]

• Rio Grande, Brasil, since 16 November 1993
• Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, since 10 March 1995
• Ferrol, Spain, since 26 August 1999
• Sint-Gillis-Waas, Belgium, since 25 August 2000
• Madalena, Portugal, since 11 April 2016

Águeda is an important commercial and industrial center, located in an extremely fertile area. The gastronomical and economical region where it is inserted, known as the Bairrada, encompasses many of the local civil parishes and is well known for its vineyards and wine industry, as well as its suckling roasted pig (Leitão Assado à Bairrada).

It has also developed a strong industry, mainly based on the production of motorized and common bicycles and on civil construction. In 2001, 60% of the resident population was employed in the secondary sector, yet between 1991 and 2001 there has been a 53% increase in those employed in tertiary sector, while there has been a 78.4% decrease in secondary sector throughout the municipality.[11]

Part of the litoral area, the region is crossed by elements of the north-south Porto-Lisbon roadway, and served by intramunicipal roads connecting it with Albergaria-a-Velha (in the north), Oiã (in the south), along the A25 and EN333, and the major EN1/IC2 motorway, that produces the major traffic influx of the region. To reach Águeda, there are essentially three distinct roadways: the EN230 (that connects Aveiro to Caramulo), the EN333 (linking Oiã to the A25, in Talhadas) and the EN336, by way of the EN230 to Mortágua. Still further, the municipality is crossed in the north by the A25, that links Aveiro and Vilar Formoso, resulting in reduced traffic along the EN1/IC2 and EN333.

Even within the municipality, a 21,082 kilometres (13,100 mi) line of railway lines of the Vouga line, that links Aveiro and Sernada do Vouga, provides daily direct commuter service to railstops within the region.

There are several sites of cultural significance and landscapes within the municipality that the local authority has attempted to preserve in order to promote tourism; resulting in the establishment of infrastructures and services to preserve these examples of local patrimony.

Among its traditional artisan products, the region is recognized for its traditional clay pottery, handmade baskets, knitted craft-works and tannery products.

The suckling roasted pig in the style of Bairrada is the most significant contribution to gastronomy in the region, although sweets are not far behind: pasteis de Águeda (English: custard), barriga de freira, fuzis and sequilhos, in addition to the padas da Veiga. Other common dishes in this region: chanfana, rojões, carne à lampantana or caldeirada de peixe (English: fish stew), all great meals that are accompanied by local wines and sparkling drinks from the cellars of the Bairrada region.

Alongside to the handmade production and the gastronomy, Águeda is also known for its cultural traditions. There are several ethnographical groups and cultural associations representing many local civil parishes and also important choirs, such as the Orfeão de Águeda.

The municipality promotes many sport-related activities in the communities of Águeda, in order to foster participation and improve healthy living throughout its parishes. These initiatives include a walking and running program (Centro Municipal de Marcha e Corrida), support for many athletic clubs and leagues within its borders and the maintenance and operation of a municipal pool for local residents.

Apart from those athletes mentioned above, the municipality has been the residency of many importance citizens, including:

• Manuel Homem de Melo da Câmara, (Wiki PT) (1866-1953), 1st Earl of Águeda
• António de Vasconcelos Nogueira (born 1931) a philosopher, author, dramatist and freelance journalist.
• Manuel Alegre de Melo Duarte (born 1936), a writer, politician and candidate for the Presidency of Portugal in 2006 & 2011
• João Pedro Matos Fernandes (born 1967) a Portuguese politician, Minister of Environment since 2015

Sources

• Soares, Nuno Pires (2004). "Uma População que se Urbaniza" (PDF). Atlas of Portugal (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Geográfico Português. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-05.
• Associação de Municípios da Ria (ed.). Plano Municipal da Água (PDF) (in Portuguese). Aveiro, Portugal: AMRIA Associação de Municípios da Ria. pp. 95–268.

• Photos from Águeda