Category: Nature > Park
District: Viseu > Carregal do Sal > Oliveirinha
The Carvalhais Fair is located in the quiet locality of Oliveirinha, within the municipality of Carregal do Sal. This unique place sits halfway up a hillside, in a predominantly rural setting, offering a landscape of serene and natural beauty. The area where the fair is established is an open, prominent, and isolated space, known as Campo da Feira (Fair Field), giving it its own atmosphere and a strong sense of community.
Upon arrival, visitors immediately perceive the connection of this space with the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Carvalhais (Our Lady of Carvalhais), which stands nearby, flanked by a traditional churchyard. This joint arrangement suggests a profound historical relationship between religious devotion and the economic life of the region.
The history of the Carvalhais Fair is as old as the devotion to Nossa Senhora dos Carvalhais itself. Dating back to the 18th century, the fair already held such importance that, in 1739, King John V granted royal authorization for the income generated from its transactions to be entirely allocated to the maintenance of the worship in the adjacent chapel. This fact underlines not only its antiquity but also its central role in the social and religious life of the community of Oliveirinha and its surroundings.
Throughout the centuries, the fair has established itself as a meeting and exchange point, where tradition remains alive. It is a testament to the persistence of commercial and cultural practices that have shaped the local identity, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into the past and present of the region's rural life.
Inseparable from the Carvalhais Fair is its chapel, an architectural example from the 18th century, classified as a Municipal Interest Building. The Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Carvalhais, in the Baroque style, features a characteristic longitudinal plan, with a nave and chancel of similar dimensions, and a bell tower that rises discreetly at the rear of the building.
Its main façade, facing west, is marked by a depressed arch portal, flanked by a quatrefoil oculust. The interior, with a single nave, has a wooden ceiling with a curved profile and carved altars that adorn both the chancel and the side spaces. Also noteworthy is the presence of a granite fountain in the churchyard, with a gargoyle and topped by a cross, which complements the ensemble and enriches its surroundings, inviting a moment of contemplation.
Coordinates DD: 40.454295558333, -7.9797590208333
Coordinates DMS: 40°27'15.5"N 07°58'47.1"W
Weather Oliveirinha
On-duty Pharmacy Oliveirinha
