The village Vale de Gouvinhas is situated in a valley on the right bank of the river Tuela in the municipality of

Mirandela Mirandela () is a city and a municipality in northeastern Portugal. The city itself has a population of about 15,000. The population of the municipality in 2011 was 23,850, in an area of 658.96 km². Mirandela is famous for its cuisine, part ...

, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 319,Instituto Nacional de Estatística
/ref> in an area of 17.14 km². It borders the villages Abambres (5 km), Vale de Telhas (2 km), Bouça and Cabanelas (3 km). The centre of Mirandela lies at 20 km.

Naming

The

toponym Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' (proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of ...

Vale de Gouvinhas seems an

anthroponym Anthroponymy (also anthroponymics or anthroponomastics, from Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος ''anthrōpos'' / 'human', and ὄνομα ''onoma'' / 'name') is the study of ''anthroponyms'', the proper names of human beings, both individual and co ...

, that is, it seems to come from the name of a person. Historians believe that this person is of Germanic origin (Ganda), but they can not specifically identify the name. In the second century appeared the name "Gaudin" (Latin). In 1150 the name called "Goubina (Goubinas?) appears in the Curia of Dom Afonso Henriques. Both names can be related to the toponym Gouvinhas, for the third hypothesis, by phonetic evolution in the merging patronymic "Gaudilaci" of Gaudila and Gouvia. What is clear that the name Gouvinhas is old.

History

This location, taking account of the archeology of

Torre de Dona Chama Torre de Dona Chama is a Portuguese civil parish in the Mirandela Municipality and district of Bragança, in the Trás-os-Montes region of northern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 1,105, in an area of 27.68 km². History Settled prior ...

, the fort and the fortifications, point to a settlement in the pre- and proto-history. The current village dates from the twelfth century. From a religious point of view, Vale de Gouvinhas and the neighboring villages form a union since the fifteenth century. It is erected by the abbey of Saint Mammes in

Guide A guide is a person who leads travelers, sportspeople, or tourists through unknown or unfamiliar locations. The term can also be applied to a person who leads others to more abstract goals such as knowledge or wisdom. Travel and recreation Expl ...

through the establishment of a church and a parish, appointed by the Curia. From a royal perspective, a notable from Torre de Dona Chama was ruler. Administratively, these villages formed the "Terra de Ledra" and there was, for a period of domination by Torre de Dona Chama, a division of the land in the form of "reviews" (twelfth or thirteenth century). It remained a part of the province Torre de Dona Chama to October 24, 1855, the date the province ceased to exist. Currently it is part of the municipality

Heraldry

Coat of Arms: Red shield, a jolted golden grapevine, foliated and golden tendrils, silvery fruit, under a cross of the

Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta ( it, Sovrano Militare Ordine Ospedaliero di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme, di Rodi e di Malta; ...

on top of silver and blue waived stripes. Silver mural crown with three towers. White listel with caption in black: "Vale de Gouvinhas". Flag: white. Silver and red cord and tassels. Golden rod and spear. Seal: according to the law with caption: "Union of villages of Vale de Gouvinhas - Mirandela".

Naming

History

Heraldry

Festivals and Fairs

External links and sources

References