Soft

Category: Archaeology > Ruins

District: Viana do Castelo > Arcos de Valdevez > Sistelo > Branda

Location

The Branda is located in the Sistelo area, a village in the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez, deeply rooted in the mountainous landscape of Alto Minho. This location is found at higher altitudes, characteristic of the 'brandas', offering a wide perspective over the slopes and valleys that make up the surrounding natural scenery. The harmonious integration of the constructions into the terrain, shaped by the characteristics of the mountain range, is a distinctive aspect.

Pastoral and Cultural Heritage

The Brandas represent an important memory of the traditional agro-pastoral life of these regions. They were seasonal summer settlements, where shepherds and their livestock ascended to take advantage of higher altitude pastures, escaping the heat of the valleys. This movement, known as transhumance, was essential for the subsistence of local communities for centuries. With the arrival of winter and the harshness of the cold, populations descended to the "inverneiras" (winter quarters), villages located at lower altitudes. Although this ancestral practice no longer occurs with the same intensity, the Brandas remain as eloquent testimonies of a way of life that profoundly marked the culture and identity of these lands.

Architecture and Stone Memory

The architecture of the Brandas reflects their practical function and the availability of local materials. Typical constructions, often referred to as "cortelhos", are simple shelters, erected with the robust granite slabs of the region. Their most notable feature is the "false dome" system, where stones were carefully overlapped, tapering towards the top. Some of these structures, though rustic, could feature two levels, allowing animals to occupy the lower floor and people the upper, benefiting from animal heat. Adjacent to these shelters, small enclosures, also made of stone, can be observed, which served to protect the livestock. The collection of these constructions, dispersed across the landscape, forms a valuable legacy that illustrates human ingenuity and adaptation to a challenging environment.

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