Vilar Formoso

Vilar Formoso is a Portuguese city commune of Almeida. In 2001, the city counted 2.481 inhabitants, for a surface of 15,63 km ², that is to say a density of 158,7 inhabitants per km ². The city is at the border hispano-Portuguese, Fuentes de Oñoro being the Spanish city nearest.

" Ground grande"

In 1758, Vilar Formoso was regarded as being apart from the large grounds , and would have been made up only of some ruins.

Today, Vilar Formoso belongs to the " grande" will terra; : it is largest Ville commune with a population higher than that of the seat of the " grande" will terra; . Vilar Formoso, whose name is known of all Portuguese, is an agglomeration made up of two centers separated by the river Tourões . The center in the south-east, which is most recent, developed as from the 19th century with construction in 1892 of the active railroad of the mouth of the Fig tree with the Spanish border.

The railroad

In 1886, the zone now known under the name of Poste did not exist yet, however the Abbé of Miragaia guessed his future aspect:

This village which includes/understands only the village of Vilar Formoso now tends to develop since the return of its customs house, which is elegant and roomy, with all the specific dependences to its delegation, a restoring good (...) and close to the station also an inn is, which represents an important population.” This author says precisely of Vilar Formoso: “Thrives obviously since the construction of the railway line in Beira Alta began (...) and must thrive more still since opened with circulation on May 23rd (1886) the prolongation of the aforesaid the line until Salamanque, joining the lines of Salamanque with Madrid and Paris (...). Vilar Formoso is thus under excellent conditions of prosperity.

The city

In the north of Vilar Formoso, is the site called Tegril, Trasigildus on the river banks of Tourões. August 1st

Battles

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By her situation in complete line, these customers suffered, since Nationality, and several sometimes, all the chance of attacks, walls and devastations. The common one suffered much at the time of the Peninsular War.

In 1811 was held celebrates it battle of Fuentes de Oñoro, where transfer themselves to oppose Massena and the army Anglo-Lusitanian.

The latter, also called battles of Vilar Formoso, and not of Fuentes de Oñoro, caused many injuries at the village.

The parish and the church

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The parochial organization of Vilar Formoso is surely former to the 13th century, because its church is already quoted and taxed (15 pounds) in enrôlement with 1320.

The Matriz church and the Vault Mister of Peace are works of Templiers, that D. Dinis replaced by the Order of Christ.

This old abbey of the miter and the pope ensures his abbot an income approaching the 600 thousand réis. It pays third and dízima, but, contrary to the majority of the churches of the bispado, neither wax gives, neither censória, neither shroud, nor procuration.

The parochial temple

to be read again, according to

In the parochial temple is detached the capela-mor cover by a ceiling mudéjar preserved well, polychrome and of elegant ornato. The furnace bridges are baroques.

It still preserves a monolithic baptismal sink. Vaults of the village and houses old " alpendradas" of the old village are also worthy of visit. it is interesting to see the building of the railway station It indeed constitutes an good example of the architecture of the century spent, with admirable Azulejos and an old engine with vapor.

The years 1980

In the Years 1980, this Commune suffers from the devaluation of the escudo compared to the peseta.

External bonds

; Cultural activities

Clã Cepa Torta
Penha has Borracha
Grupo Coral Polifónico de Vilar Formoso
Agrupamento Escolas de V.Formoso

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