Old Community Oven

Category: Civil Architecture > Community Oven

District: Vila Real > Montalegre > Negrões

Location

The Old Community Oven is located in Negrões, a small village in the municipality of Montalegre. Situated in the heart of the settlement, it allows visitors to closely observe the rural daily life of Trás-os-Montes. Its integration into the landscape and traditional architecture of the village, marked by granite, gives it a genuine and serene atmosphere, typical of Alto Barroso.

A Community Legacy

For many years, this oven was a central element in the lives of Negrões' inhabitants. It served as a meeting and sharing point, where the village families took turns baking bread. More than just a place for cooking, it was a space for socializing, sharing knowledge, and strengthening community ties. Its presence recalls a time when mutual help and sharing were fundamental pillars of rural subsistence.

Traditional Architecture

The construction of the Old Community Oven reflects the robustness and simplicity of the region's traditional buildings. Built predominantly from granite stone, an abundant material in the surroundings, it features a solid and durable structure. Its roof, typically gabled, is covered with stone slabs, a distinctive architectural feature. Inside, the oven's baking chamber has a vault that ensured heat retention, and it was common to find, in its vicinity, a large stone bench, used for kneading dough before placing it in the oven.

Living Memories of Tradition

Although its daily use has diminished with the passage of time and the emergence of bakeries, the Old Community Oven of Negrões remains a symbol of the village's cultural heritage. Its existence preserves the memory of a past when bread, homemade and shared, was the daily sustenance. Occasionally, this oven is revived, especially during festive seasons, to keep alive the tradition of baking local delicacies, such as the traditional folar de Páscoa (Easter bread/cake), allowing new generations to connect with the ancestral practices of their community.

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