New Village (submerged)

Category: Civil Architecture > Village

District: Beja > Ourique > Cabreiras Novas

Location

Situated in the district of Beja, within the municipality of Ourique, and in the vicinity of the locality of Cabreiras Novas, the Aldeia Nova (submerged) is found in an environment of vast Alentejo tranquility. This location is characterized by the marked presence of an extensive body of water, framed by the serene beauty of the rural landscape. The site offers a unique perspective on the quietude of the interior, where the horizon stretches vast and the aquatic element dominates the surrounding scenery.

Its geographical position, immersed in this natural setting, invites contemplation of the interaction between history and the environment, in a space that exudes the characteristic calm of the region.

Memory of an Immersed Past

Aldeia Nova was once a vibrant community, a cluster of constructions and lives that punctuated the landscape. Currently, its existence is marked by the visible absence of its structures, being almost entirely hidden beneath a great mirror of water. This place symbolizes a silent testimony to the profound transformation of the territory, where human intervention has permanently shaped the natural scenery.

Its history is now inextricably linked to the aquatic environment that surrounds it, serving as an echo of the rural past of this area of Alentejo, a settlement that, although invisible, remains an integral part of the local identity and the unique landscape.

The Scenery of Water and Mystery

The environment that embraces Aldeia Nova (submerged) is dominated by the beauty and quietude of the deep Alentejo. The calm waters that cover it reflect the vast sky and the undulating banks, painting a picture of peace and serenity. A visit to this place offers an opportunity for reflection on nature's resilience and the ephemerality of human presence, all within a natural setting that inspires quietude.

In certain periods, when water levels decrease significantly, some vestiges of the old settlement may, faintly, become visible, offering a fleeting glimpse of what was once a place with its dwellings and its characteristic daily life.

Legacy and Evocation

Although the structures of Aldeia Nova are mostly inaccessible and hidden, its legacy persists in the region's memory and the uniqueness of the landscape that surrounds it. It represents a point of interest that evokes themes such as adaptation, change, and the passage of time, inviting a journey through the history of a place that surrendered itself to the waters.

The existence of a submerged settlement lends this place an aura of mystery and a historical depth that can be felt in the air, even without the physical presence of its buildings. It is an invitation to the imagination, to glimpse the lives that unfolded there, the routines and traditions of a community that left behind a setting of peculiar beauty and quietude.

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