House of Paço de Dálvares

Category: Civil Architecture > Monument

District: Viseu > Tarouca > Gouviães e Ucanha > Valdevez

Location

The Casa do Paço de Dálvares is located in the Valdevez area, integrated into the locality of Gouviães and Ucanha, within the municipality of Tarouca. This historic building is situated on a small elevation, in a serene rural setting, benefiting from a commanding position over the surrounding landscape, facing southeast.

The Architecture and the Centuries

The architecture of the Casa do Paço de Dálvares reveals a narrative built over several centuries. The complex features a U-shaped plan, composed of sections erected at different times, which enclose an inner courtyard protected by a well-crafted granite wall.

The oldest section, whose construction dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries, spans two floors and features uniquely rhythmic openings on its facade, as well as nine uneven corbels that suggest the structure's evolution over time. On the ground floor, the main entrance is marked by a chamfered pointed arch portal, flanked by rectangular windows with chamfered edges. On the upper floor, the balcony windows, with their robust granite bases and elegant iron railings, invite detailed observation. The interior walls of the primitive palace are made of dressed granite, and on the second floor, elements such as window seats (conversadeiras), niches, and a wooden floor that preserves the building's original essence can be observed.

Historical Roots

The Casa do Paço de Dálvares has its roots deeply intertwined with Portuguese history, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. From its origin, it functioned as an important manorial residence, known as a casa de honra or quintã velha. The site is directly associated with the lineage of Egas Moniz, a prominent figure in the nation's foundation, which bestows upon it a legacy of great historical significance.

The concept of "honra" or "quintã" designated an agro-economic complex that included the two-story noble residence and vast surrounding lands, demonstrating the social and economic importance of the paço (palace) in the medieval structure. Over the centuries, the paço maintained privileges and characteristics that distinguished it. Among the historical figures who resided within these walls, D. Urraca Afonso, natural daughter of D. Afonso III, stands out, having also lived here and enriched the building's cultural heritage.

The Mystery and the Legacy

Beyond its remarkable architectural and historical value, the Casa do Paço de Dálvares is the birthplace of an intriguing legend that still endures in local memory today. According to tradition, anyone who crossed the entrance arch of the Paço and stepped on a specific stone, where a mark resembling an engraved footprint can be seen, would immediately obtain their freedom, regardless of any transgression committed.

This symbolism enhances the status of "honored land" that the place possessed, where the rights of the nobility were so pronounced as to confer a kind of immunity. After a period of degradation and use for agricultural purposes, the property underwent a rigorous and careful restoration in the early 21st century. This intervention has allowed its valuable legacy to be preserved and accessible today, functioning as a space that fosters culture and community interaction.

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