Category: Religious Architecture > Church
District: Leiria > Ansião > Pousaflores > Casal Novo
The Chapel of São João de Brito is located in Casal Novo, a locality in the western part of the parish and municipality of Pousaflores, within the concelho of Ansião. It is situated about 5.5 km from the town of Pousaflores, which made it, since its construction, an essential place of worship for the inhabitants of that more distant area. The chapel's name is so locally recognized that the place itself is often referred to as "São João de Brito".
The chapel was born from the initiative of Father António Lopes de Melo, parish priest of Pousaflores between 1935 and 1982, who understood the travel difficulties faced by the faithful in the western area. To address this need, he launched an appeal to the entire parish, from Albarrol to Pinheiro, to contribute with goods and donations. Thanks to this collective mobilization, a closer place of worship was erected, where sacraments and masses could be celebrated without parishioners having to cross the mountain to reach the Mother Church.
The Chapel of São João de Brito continues to be a symbol of identity and community cohesion. Although it is part of the sole parish of Pousaflores, it stands out for the importance it assumed for the western part of the municipality, becoming a spiritual and social reference point. Visitors will find a building of simple, well-preserved religious architecture, with a recently renovated altar, reflecting the community's continuous care for this heritage. Many visitors and locals praise its serene beauty and welcoming atmosphere, considering it a "place of excellence" and "a recommended visit".
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.8707808176616,-8.443855875542825
Coordinates DMS: 39°52'14.8"N 08°26'37.9"W
Weather Pousaflores
On-duty Pharmacy Pousaflores
