Chapel of Our Lady of Assedasse

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Guarda > Gouveia > Folgosinho > Assedasse

Location

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Assedasse is located in Assedasse, an area within the locality of Folgosinho, in the municipality of Gouveia. Situated at an altitude of approximately 935 meters, this chapel is isolated in the heart of the Serra da Estrela, in a wide valley traversed by the Mondego River. The surrounding landscape is marked by genuine mountain natural beauty, where vast rye fields, gorse bushes, and meadows that serve as pasture for flocks predominate. Its position grants a view over the valley, shaped by metamorphic rocks and a winding river course, revealing an environment of tranquility and deep connection with nature.

Roots in History

This chapel has a history dating back to the dawn of Portuguese nationality, with documentary references mentioning it in royal inquiries as early as 1285. Popular tradition suggests that its foundation even predates that of the village of Folgosinho itself. Throughout the centuries, the site of Assedasse was a point of ancestral human presence, with visible vestiges near the chapel suggesting the existence of a very old settlement, where rights over the land were maintained, even after its inhabitants moved to Folgosinho.

Cult and Mountain Tradition

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Assedasse is a pillar of the spirituality of the people of the Serra da Estrela, honored as the protector of shepherds and mountain livestock. Its cultural relevance is deeply linked to transhumance, the ancient seasonal movement of flocks between pastures. This place of devotion is the setting for an ancient annual pilgrimage, where faith and customs intertwine. The persistence of this tradition is a testament to the collective memory and the importance of this sanctuary for the mountain community, which regards it as a place of worship, promises, and blessings.

Architectural Features

The structure of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Assedasse is of Romanesque origin, dating from the 12th century, which gives it a particular historical and architectural value. Even in a place once surrounded by the ruins of an ancient settlement, the sanctuary remained intact throughout time, an achievement that popular tradition interpreted as a sign of its sacredness and divine protection. Inside, a baptismal font can still be observed, an element that reinforces the idea of its former function as the center of an established community.

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