Category: Civil Architecture > House
District: Viseu > Tarouca > Valdevez
The Dálvares Manor House is located in the village of Valdevez, part of the municipality of Tarouca. The building stands on a small rise amidst the rural landscape, offering unobstructed views of the surroundings. Its isolated position, overlooking the road, accentuates its striking presence in the territory, creating a tranquil environment inviting observation of the surrounding nature.
This positioning lends the Manor a unique character, where history and architecture harmoniously blend with the serenity of the countryside.
The history of the Dálvares Manor House dates back to ancient times, with its first reference to Dálvares appearing as early as 1152. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the manor was intrinsically linked to the noble lineage of Egas Moniz, a prominent figure in the formation of Portugal, and this location was associated with the designation of "old quinta" or "house of honor," reflecting its importance and the prestige of its early owners.
Over the centuries, the house witnessed the lives of personalities such as D. Urraca Afonso, natural daughter of D. Afonso III. Although it underwent a period of decline and was used for agricultural purposes, the property was acquired and restored by the Municipal Council at the beginning of the 21st century. This intervention allowed the manor to be reborn, now hosting cultural and recreational activities, thus preserving its rich heritage for future generations.
The building features a "U"-shaped plan, resulting from development across different eras. The primitive core, dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, is complemented by attached structures from the 17th and 18th centuries. This superposition of styles and periods is visible on the façade, where the openings are irregularly distributed and where the presence of uneven corbels suggests distinct construction phases.
The robustness of the manor is notable, with walls built of dressed granite, the predominant material throughout the structure, including the exterior staircases providing access to the upper floors. Notable features include the main entrance with a richly chamfered pointed arch portal, and a bay window on the second floor, with a granite balcony and iron railings. The interior of the medieval manor reveals rooms with granite walls, rectangular doors, and, in some places, details such as window seats next to the windows and niches that tell stories of daily life from other times.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.038830906247,-7.7585229277611
Coordinates DMS: 41°02'19.8"N 07°45'30.7"W