Pinhel () is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

, former Catholic bishopric and present Latin

titular see A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular metropolitan" (highest rank), "titular archbi ...

in the

central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known a ...

subregion of

Beira Interior Norte Beira Interior Norte () is a former Portuguese subregion (NUTS level 3) in the Centro Region. It was abolished at the January 2015 NUTS 3 revision.Instituto Nacional de Estatística
/ref> in an area of 484.52 km². The urban centre of Pinhel had about 3500 residents in 2001.

History

The origins of this municipality date back to the Calcolithic period, as many of the remnants of ancient cultures from this period remain: namely the rock-art engravings and paintings that line the Côa valley in Cidadelhe. Part of the historic district of Guarda, the region obtained its name for many pine forests that covered the region's hills and mountains. There are also several references to a pre-Roman or Roman presence, suggesting a continual occupancy since this period. During the medieval period, owing to the defensive requirements of the fledgling nation, several fortified centres developed, including the Pinhel, but also along a line that included: Trancoso, Marialva, Guarda, Castelo Rodrigo, Almeida and Castelo Mendo. The

Castle of Pinhel The Castle of Pinhel ( pt, Castelo de Pinhel) is a Portugal, Portuguese Castles in Portugal, castle in the Freguesia (Portugal), civil parish of Pinhel (parish), Pinhel, in the Concelho, municipality of Pinhel, central-eastern district of Guarda ( ...

dates from the reign of King Denis and the keep tower from his descendant, King

Manuel I Manuel I may refer to: *Manuel I Komnenos, Byzantine emperor (1143–1180) *Manuel I of Trebizond, Emperor of Trebizond (1228–1263) *Manuel I of Portugal Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate ( pt, O Venturoso), was ...

. Pinhel's strategic position, along the frontier with Spain, made the monarchs of Portugal retain many of these fortifications, as well as allowing the development of their territorial claims. The historical centre, with its narrow roadways, were adapted from the morphology of the terrain, with many patrimonial references to the medieval and modern eras. The homes of the city of Pinhel, some dating from the 16th century, includes some lost references to the presence of a Jewish population at one time, such as along the ''Rua de Santa Maria''. Pinhel was, for a long time, the seat of its own diocese, before being incorporated into the Diocese of Guarda. The 17th and 18th century were periods of growth for the region, dominated the construction of estates, scattered in many of the historic corners of the municipality, some monumental and decorative. The urbanized area of Pinhel, the city of Pinhel, was elevated to this status in 1770.

Ecclesiastical History

In 1770.08.25 a bishopric was established as Diocese of Pinhel / Pinhelen(sis) (Latin adjective), on territory split off from the Diocese of Lamego, apparently as

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...

of the Metropolitan

Archdiocese of Braga The Archdiocese of Braga ( la, Archidioecesis Bracarensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Portugal. It is known for its use of the Rite of Braga, a use of the liturgy distinct from the Roman R ...

. The Church of the Saviour (Portuguese: Igreja do Salvador) served as

cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the ''cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominations ...

, until its demolition and substitution as such in 1797 by the convent church of St. Louis (Portuguese: Igreja de São Luís) as ordered by bishop Don Bernardo Bernardino Beltrão Freire. It was suppressed on 1881.09.30, its territory being merged into the Diocese of Guarda.

Residential Bishops of Pinhel

* João Rafael de Mendonça (1771.06.17 – 1771.07.29), next Bishop of

Roman Catholic Diocese of Porto The Portuguese Roman Catholic Diocese of Porto ( la, Dioecesis Portugallensis) (Oporto) is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Braga. Its see at Porto is in the Norte region, and the second largest city in Portugal. History The diocese was pro ...

(Portugal) (1771.07.29 – death 1793.06.06) * Cristóvão de Almeida Soares (1773.03.08 – death 1782.02.11) * José António Pinto de Mendonça Arrais (1782.12.16 – 1797.12.18), next Bishop of Guarda (Portugal) (1797.12.18 – death 1822.04.19) * Bernardo Bernardino Beltrão Freire (1797.12.18 – death 1828.07.19) * Leonardo de Sousa Brandão (1832.12.17 – death 1838) *''

Apostolic Administrator An Apostolic administration in the Catholic Church is administrated by a prelate appointed by the pope to serve as the ordinary for a specific area. Either the area is not yet a diocese (a stable 'pre-diocesan', usually missionary apostolic adm ...

Father António Mendes Bello (1874 – 1881),

Titular Archbishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

Mytilene Mytilene (; el, Μυτιλήνη, Mytilíni ; tr, Midilli) is the capital of the Greek island of Lesbos, and its port. It is also the capital and administrative center of the North Aegean Region, and hosts the headquarters of the University o ...

(1884.03.24 – 1884.11.13) as Auxiliary Bishop of

Patriarchate of Lisboa The Patriarchate of Lisbon ( la, Patriarchatus Olisiponensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or patriarchal archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Its archiepiscopal see is the Patriarchal Cathedral o ...

(Lisbon, Portugal) (1884.03.24 – 1884.11.13), next

Archbishop-Bishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdio ...

of Diocese of Faro (Algarve, Portugal) (1884.11.13 – 1907.12.19), Latin Patriarch of

Lisboa Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits w ...

(Lisbon, Portugal) (1907.12.19 – 1929.08.05), created

Cardinal-Priest A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Col ...

of Ss. Marcellino e Pietro (1914.09.08 – 1929.08.05).

Titular see

In 1969 the diocese was nominally restored as Latin

Titular bishopric A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular metropolitan" (highest rank), "titular archbish ...

of Pinhel (Português) / Pinhelen(sis) (Latin). It has had the following incumbents, so far of the fitting Episcopal (lowest) order : * Thomas Kiely Gorman (1969.08.22 – resigned 1971.01.21) on emeritate, formerly Bishop of

Reno Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is th ...

(USA) (1931.04.24 – 1952.02.08), Titular Bishop of Rhasus (1952.02.08 – 1954.08.29) as

Coadjutor Bishop A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) is a bishop in the Catholic, Anglican, and (historically) Eastern Orthodox churches whose main role is to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese. The coadjutor (literally, "co- ...

of Dallas–Fort Worth (Texas, USA) (1952.02.08 – 1954.08.29), succeeding as last Bishop of Dallas–Fort Worth (1954.08.29 – 1969.08.09), restyled 'first' Bishop of

Dallas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County ...

(USA) (1969.08.09 – 1969.08.22); died 1980 * Mervyn Alban Alexander (1972.03.08 – 1974.12.20) as Auxiliary Bishop of Diocese of Clifton (England, UK) (1972.03.08 – 1974.12.20), succeeding as Bishop of Clifton (1974.12.20 – retired 2001.02.27); died 2010 * Hugo Mark Gerbermann,

Maryknoll Fathers Maryknoll is a name shared by a number of related Catholic organizations, including the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers (also known as the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America or the Maryknoll Society), the Maryknoll Sisters, and the Mary ...

(M.M.) (1975.07.22 – death 1996.10.19) as Auxiliary Bishop of

Archdiocese of San Antonio The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the United States, and sui juris Latin Church in full communion with the pope of Rome. It encompasses in the U.S. state of Texas. The Roman Catholic Archd ...

(USA) (1975.07.22 – 1982.06.30) and on emeritate; previously Titular Bishop of Amathus in Palæstina (1962.06.06 – 1967.12.23) as only

Bishop-Prelate In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an Holy Orders, ordained Minister (Catholic Church), minister who holds the fullness of the Sacraments of the Catholic Church, sacrament of Holy orders in the Catholic Church, holy orders and is responsible ...

of Territorial Prelature of Huehuetenango (

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by Hon ...

) (1961.08.08 – 1967.12.23) promoted first Bishop of Huehuetenango (1967.12.23 – 1975.07.22) * Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente (1999.11.06 – 2007.02.22) as Auxiliary Bishop of Lisboa Patriarchate (Portugal) (1999.11.06 – 2007.02.22), next Bishop of

Porto Porto or Oporto () is the second-largest city in Portugal, the capital of the Porto District, and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto city proper, which is the entire municipality of Porto, is small compared to its metropo ...

(Portugal) (2007.02.22 – 2013.05.18), Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Portugal (2011 – 2013.06.19), Latin Patriarch of Lisbon Patriarchate (Portugal) (2013.05.18 – ...), President of Episcopal Conference of Portugal (2013.06.19 – ...), created

of S. Antonio in Campo Marzio (2015.02.14 015.06.14– ...) * Guillermo Martín Abanto Guzmán (2009.01.30 – 2012.10.30) as Auxiliary Bishop of

Archdiocese of Lima The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima ( la, Archidioecesis Limana) is part of the Roman Catholic Church in Peru which enjoys full communion with the Holy See. The Archdiocese was founded as the Diocese of Lima on 14 May 1541. The diocese was r ...

(Peru) (2009.01.30 – 2012.10.30), next Military Ordinary of

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

(Peru) (2012.10.30 – retired 2013.07.27) * Jorge Estrada Solórzano (2013.05.28 – ...), Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of (Ciudad) México (

Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...

), no previous prelature.

Geography

The municipality of Pinhel is geographically delimited, in its entirety para two waterways: the ''Ribeira do Massueime'' (in the west) and east by the

Côa River The Côa River () is a tributary of the Douro River, in central and northeastern Portugal. It is one of the few Portuguese rivers that flows south to north. It flows through the municipalities of Sabugal, Almeida, Pinhel, Figueira de Castelo ...

. It is located in the central part of the district of Guarda and confined by the municipalities of Almeida,

Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo () is a municipality in the District of Guarda in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 6,260,Vila Nova de Foz Côa Vila Nova de Foz Côa () is a city and a municipality in the district of Guarda, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 7,312,Meda Meda may refer to: Places * Meda de Mouros, a parish in Tábua Municipality, Portugal * Medas, a parish in Gondomar Municipality, Portugal * Meda-Ela, Sri Lanka * Međa (Leskovac), village in the municipality of Leskovac, Serbia * Meda, Lombardy, ...

, Trancoso and Guarda. The area includes a superficial area of , divided into 18 civil parishes, as well as one urban parish, the city/seat of Pinhel. The municipality is accessed by a rail-line, the Vila Franca das Naves line for , by the A25 roadway (connecting Pinhel and Pínzio, and internationally by its connection to Vilar Formoso, . The northern part of the municipality is part of the

Prehistoric Rock-Art Site of the Côa Valley Prehistory, also known as pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the use of the first stone tools by hominins 3.3 million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use of ...

, an archaeological and geological park known for its inscribed rock formations, created by primitive cultures along the Côa valley. This area, along with Foz Coa has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site for these primitive engravings. Pinhel is surrounded by Guarda, Trancoso, Almeida,

Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo () is a municipality in the District of Guarda in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 6,260,Mêda Mêda () is a municipality in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 5,202, in an area of 286.05 km2. The city of Mêda proper had a population of 2,004 in 2001. It was promoted to city in December 2004. Municipality The municipality is located ...

and

Vila Nova de Foz Côa Vila Nova de Foz Côa () is a city and a municipality in the district of Guarda, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 7,312,district of Guarda.

Climate

Parishes

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 18 civil parishes (''

freguesias ''Freguesia'' (), usually translated as "parish" or "civil parish", is the third-level administrative subdivision of Portugal, as defined by the 1976 Constitution. It is also the designation for local government jurisdictions in the former Port ...

''): * Alto do Palurdo * Alverca da Beira / Bouça Cova * Atalaia e Safurdão * Ervedosa * Freixedas * Lamegal * Lameiras * Manigoto * Pala * Pinhel * Pínzio * Souro Pires * Sul de Pinhel * Terras de Massueime * Valbom / Bogalhal * Vale do Côa * Vale do Massueime * Vascoveiro

Architecture

See above for church buildings. In addition, the following buildings and structures have been classified as national patrimony: *

( pt, Castelo de Pinhel).

Notable people

José Dias Coelho José Dias Coelho (1923 in Pinhel – 1961 in Lisbon) was a Portugal, Portuguese painter and sculptor, an anti-fascist and an important member of the Portuguese Communist Party. In his youth, José Dias Coelho joined the Antifascist Academic Fron ...

(1923 in Pinhel – 1961) a Portuguese painter and sculptor, an anti-fascist and member of the PCP

References

Sources and external links

GCatholic, with Google satellite photo - episcopal see of Pinhel

Photos from Pinhel

{{Authority control Municipalities of Guarda District Cities in Portugal