Cabeçais House of Culture

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Arts Centre

District: Aveiro > Arouca > Fermedo > Cabeçais

Location

The Casa da Cultura de Cabeçais is situated in the heart of the locality of Cabeçais, belonging to the parish of Fermedo, in the municipality of Arouca. The building is located in a central square, a meeting point resulting from the confluence of two roads, one of which is a national road. This central position confers visibility and a prominent role in the local urban fabric.

Heritage and Architecture

This remarkable 18th-century building exhibits a rectangular plan and rises over two floors. Its facades are characterized by framed rectangular openings, including casement and sash windows, as well as straight lintel doors. One of its most distinctive elements is the external staircase, longitudinally attached to the main facade. This staircase leads to a raised platform, protected by a portico supported by columns, offering a unique access to the upper floor. It should be noted that the current orientation of this staircase results from a reconfiguration in the early 20th century, adapted to the modernization of the road that crosses the locality.

In its construction, robust and traditional materials were favored. Granite is the predominant material in the stonework and structure, giving it lasting solidity. The roofs are covered with the typical pan and cover tiles, while the interiors reveal the presence of wood in doors, window frames, ceilings, and flooring, which complements the granite of the lower floor.

A History of Uses

The Casa da Cultura de Cabeçais has a rich history, marked by diverse functions that reflect the evolution of the community itself. Originally, this eighteenth-century building served as the Town Hall, the Court, and the Jail of the extinct municipality of Fermedo, a testament to its past as the administrative and judicial center of the region. The dissolution of the municipality, in the mid-19th century, altered its original purpose.

During the 20th century, the building adapted to new local needs. For a period, it functioned as a girls' primary school, playing a crucial role in the education of younger generations. Currently, the Casa da Cultura de Cabeçais serves as a dynamic multi-purpose building of a cultural and recreational nature, hosting various activities and actively contributing to the cultural life of the community of Fermedo and Arouca.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt