The "Brandas" and the Inverneiras" would serve the survival agro-pastoral economy, which implied transhumance: during the summer months, the shepherds would be ascending to the "Brandas" with the cattle, and there they remain as long as the weather favoured higher altitudes pastures, then descending to lower villages, the "Inverneiras", which would allow them to withstand the rigors of winter’s cold. The "Brandas" are usually higher than 600 meters of altitude, while the “Inverneiras” villages are typically between 400 and 600 meters.
Nowadays the “Brandas” do not serve the same purpose anymore, mainly because of the profound changes the economy of these regions suffered the past decades. However, these spots are preserved as a part of the landscape, with or without human occupation, as an eloquent testimony of other times, so close and yet so far away.
Associated to the mountain’ pastoral activity, can also be found in the higher areas of the mountain, the “cortelhos” (shelters used to protect shepherds from bad weather). The construction process of these shelters is very interesting, evocative the fake “Tholoi”’s domes (beehive shaped tombs dating back to the chalcolithic period). The stone slabs were placed semi-overlapping, tapering the centre’s coverage. These sometimes had no keystone, in order to create a natural chimney to the open fire burning inside. Others, more complex, included two floors, each with a specific use: the ground floor would host the cattle while the top floor would be reserved to the people, benefiting from the heat generated by the animals.
Location: Arcos de Valdevez
Nowadays the “Brandas” do not serve the same purpose anymore, mainly because of the profound changes the economy of these regions suffered the past decades. However, these spots are preserved as a part of the landscape, with or without human occupation, as an eloquent testimony of other times, so close and yet so far away.
Associated to the mountain’ pastoral activity, can also be found in the higher areas of the mountain, the “cortelhos” (shelters used to protect shepherds from bad weather). The construction process of these shelters is very interesting, evocative the fake “Tholoi”’s domes (beehive shaped tombs dating back to the chalcolithic period). The stone slabs were placed semi-overlapping, tapering the centre’s coverage. These sometimes had no keystone, in order to create a natural chimney to the open fire burning inside. Others, more complex, included two floors, each with a specific use: the ground floor would host the cattle while the top floor would be reserved to the people, benefiting from the heat generated by the animals.
Location: Arcos de Valdevez
