- Fundão
Infobox_Municipality_pt
official_name = Fundão
image_coat_of_arms = FND1.png
Region = Centro
Subregion =Cova da Beira
District = Castelo Branco
Mayor_name = Manuel Frexes
Mayor_party = PSD
area_total = 700.1
population_total = 31,297
population_density = 55
Parishes = 31
coor = 40º08'N 7º30'W
params = 40_08_N_7_30_W
occasion =
day =September 15
website = http://www.cm-fundao.ptFundão (pron. IPA2|fũ'dɐ̃ũ) is a city and municipality in
Portugal , located in the district of Castelo Branco. Fundão is an old city with 8,369 [ [http://62.48.187.117/atlas/Cap2/Cap2d_2.html UMA POPULAÇÃO QUE SE URBANIZA, Uma avaliação recente - Cidades, 2004] Nuno Pires Soares, Instituto Geográfico Português (Geographic Institute of Portugal)] inhabitants, situated at the point where the slope of theGardunha range meets theCova da Beira plains, 500 metres above sea level. The municipality has a total area of 700.1 square kilometres and 31,297 inhabitants. It is subdivided in 31 parishes. The film festival IMAGO – Young Film and Video Festival, is organised in the town. [ [http://www.imagofilmfest.com IMAGO – Young Film and Video Festival] ]History
During the
Iron Age , from about1000 B.C. until its destruction by the Romans there was a CelticLusitanian Castro or fortified village in nearby São Brás Mount. The remains of avilla or agriculturalmanor house , workers houses and other associated buildings from the time of theRoman Empire have been found in the underground of the centre of the current city. This villa was rebuilt as a fortified medieval mansion during theHigh Middle Ages .The history of Fundão is intimately related to that of its originally
Jewish , thenNew-Christian orMarrano population.Although the place already was mentioned in documents from 1307 referring 32 houses, the bulk of the population only settled after the expulsions of the Spanish Jews (sephardic ), byFerdinand and Isabella in 1492. Close to the border, and already home to significant Jewish minorities theCova da Beira region received many refugees. These came to settle in the place of Fundão, which their numbers swelled to that of a city. The influx of Jewish artisans and merchants quickly transformed it into an important commercial and industrial centre. With the establishment of the PortugueseInquisition shortly thereafter, many Jews and new-Christians were arrested, tortured, executed or had their possessions expropriated. The commercial dinamism of the city was affected.The place was proclaimed a city in 1580, by its notables after declaring support for the attempt byDom António, Prior do Crato , to preserve Portuguese independence against the ambitions of the King ofSpain Felipe II (Felipe I of Portugal ). The Municipal Council and autonomy were granted in 1747.Under the Enlightenment of the late 18th century the
Prime-Minister of Portugal, theMarquis of Pombal abolished the legal restraints on the new-Christians and equiparated them to theold-christians . He tried to recreate the industrial preeminence of Fundão by founding the Royal Factories (today theCity Hall ). These efforts allowed a measure of revival to the wool industries of the city, and cloth was again exported to northernEurope . The city decayed again after its sack during the (defeated)Napoleonic French invasions of Portugal, and the following Civil War between supporters of LiberalConstitutionalist pretender D. Pedro II and his brother Conservative AbsolutistD. Miguel for the throne.Economy
The town is an important local centre of industry and services.Around it lies some of the most fertile land in the region, in a large valley (
Cova da Beira ), between theGardunha andEstrela ranges, where the RiverZêzere starts its way towards theTagus . The most significant productions arecherries ,peach es,olive oil ,wine ,wood pulp andvegetables .Some of the most importantwolframite (most important mineral source of the metaltungsten ) mines in the world are explored within its municipal limits. Other important mines extractlead andtin . High qualitymineral water is bottled from several sources.Parishes of the Municipality
* Alcaide
* Alcaria
* Alcongosta
* Aldeia de Joanes
* Aldeia Nova do Cabo
* Alpedrinha
* Atalaia do Campo
* Barroca
* Bogas de Baixo
* Bogas de Cima
* Capinha
* Castelejo
* Castelo Novo
* Donas
* Enxames
* Escarigo
* Fatela
* Fundão
* Janeiro de Cima
* Lavacolhos
* Mata da Rainha
* Orca
* Pêro Viseu
* Póvoa de Atalaia
* Salgueiro
* São Martinho
* Silvares
* Soalheira
* Souto da Casa
* Telhado
* Vale de Prazeres
* ValverdeReferences
External links
* [http://www.cm-fundao.pt Municipality official website]
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