Vilar Chão Church

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Braga > Vieira do Minho > Vilar Chão > Laje

Location

The Church of Vilar Chão is located on a small elevation in the parish of Lage, in Vieira do Minho, overlooking the Cabreira mountain range. It is about 8 km from the town seat of the municipality and close to the right bank of the Ave River.

Natural Surroundings

Inserted in a rural and mountainous landscape, the church stands out for the tranquility of the place and the open views over the surrounding nature. Access is via a cobblestone road, typical of the region.

Architecture

Built in granite stone, the church has a simple and robust facade, with an arched portal and a bell tower separated from the main building, erected on a boulder. This separation between tower and nave is unusual and attracts the attention of visitors.

Highlight

The top of the facade is topped with a cross and stone pinnacles, with a central clock above the main door. The gabled roof with red tile eaves gives it the typical rustic air of mountain churches.

Night Lighting

At night, the church is illuminated by white spotlights, highlighting the outline of its granite structure and giving it a serene and welcoming atmosphere.

Local History

The name Vilar Chão has been documented since the 11th century. The parish was already a parish in 1220 and was, for centuries, an abbey linked to the Archdiocese of Braga.

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