Lousã

Lousã () is a town and municipality in the district of Coimbra, in the central part of Portugal. The population in 2011 was 17,604,Instituto Nacional de Estatística
/ref> in an area of 138.40 km².

History

The oldest evidence provides an indication of a human presence in this territory from the Roman occupation of the Iberian peninsula. Examples of this include the funerary pyres, rooftops, tile, glass utensils, coins and the remains of the roadways, in various points of within the municipality, including the urban perimeter of Lousã and Serpins. In addition, in the valley and Serra de Ceira there are vestiges of important gold exploration attempts.

With the invasion of the Germanic people, Imperial Rome fragmented, and many of the colonies dispersed, resulting in a loss of information for this period. But, in 943, there was a contract between Zuleima Abaiud and the abbey Mestúlio in the Monastery of Lorvão where, for the first time, the toponymic name ''Arauz'' appeared to designate the central place in this region, near a granite wall that later became the point where the Castle of Arouce was constructed. Coimbra, at the time, was the central place in the Mozarab culture, which was rich due to its economic activity, resulting in a diffusion of settlements to the north of Portugal.

Only with the pacification of the Mondego valley in the 9th century, allowed the development of Lousã basin. It was Sisnando Davides who was responsible for the conquest of the territory, and reorganization of the territory, which included the reconstruction of the various castles, such as in Coimbra, Montemor-o-Velho, Penela, Pencova and Lousã/Arouce. Legend suggests that Lousã was founded by an emir, named Arunce, who wanted to protect his daughter Peralta, while he was away on campaigns in Northern Africa.

The Counts of Lousã, descendants of a Portuguese conqueror, António Correia, whose coat-of-arms is decorated with a depiction of the severed head of King Muqrin, the last Jabrid ruler of Bahrain, killed by Correia in battle.

Kingdom

The territory of Arouce, whose castle was already mentioned in the Foral of Miranda do Corvo (1136), and contemplated by King Afonso I, who issued a foral in 1151. In another regal document, dated 1160, there is a reference to a "Lousã" that was independent of Arouce, much like Vilarinho (noting the distinct realities of the sites). A license was issued by King John III, on 23 May 1537, to the residents of Lousã to hold a ''Bodo de São João''.

During the Middle Ages, Lousã continued to prosper and, like many other lands in the kingdom, its old foral was confirmed by King Afonso II, installing a group of rules, privileges and rights, that were later revoked in 1513. On 25 October, of the same year, a new charter was issued by King Manuel I.

It was in the 18th century, that Lousã transformed from modest village to a town, with roads lined with new edifices, housing the Portuguese nobility. With the creation of the paper industry, the ''Engenho de Papel do Penedo'', produced goods of exquisite quality that, in 1716, it received the (then) prestigious typographic seal of the Society of Jesus of Coimbra, later followed by the ''Tipografia Académica'', founded by the Marquis of Pombal and the Casa da Moeda. Other companies would install themselves with the municipality's borders. In 1868, the ''Fábrica do Boque'' was founded in Serpins, it operated the first machine to produce continuous paper in Portugal at the time. The ''Fábrica do Casal de Ermio'', which operated between 1853 and 1890, later acquired by the ''Fábrica do Penedo'' and transformed into a power plant. Other industries provided wiring, namely the ''Foz de Arouce'' and produced energy. Mills, liqueurs, saw-milling, carpentry and other diverse industries, allowed the municipality to transform from agricultural to manufacturing services.

Peninsular War

It was not until the third French invasion during the Peninsular war (at the beginning of the 19th century), that the region suffered, during the retreat of General Massena, in March 1811. Escaping along the Almeida road, the royal road that linked the Kingdom to Spain, and passed through settlements in Miranda do Corvo, Foz de Arouce and Ponte da Mucela, Massena's men attempted to recuperate their interventions in the Kingdom. The French troops pillaged the many villages along their route, extending along the roads to Arneiro and Lousã, as well as several places along the Serra, where they sacked homes, barns and churches, attempting to steal the wealth of the country.

From Lousã these troops stripped the silver from the parochial church, namely the rich bunk and chest, that Father Cáceres had donated to the temple in the 16th century, in addition to other items.

In order to make their escape, French troops were forced to cross the Ceira River, at the small bridge of Foz de Arouce. This narrow channel slowed their escape, allowing the Anglo-Portuguese Army to catch-up to them, constituting a major blow to the enemy.

Republic

For a long time, Serpins constituted its own autonomous municipality, while Lousã included the localities of Semide, Rio de Vide and, even, Miranda do Corvo. The old town includes several roads, surrounding the old square and (now) disappeared parochial church, municipal hall and tribunal, namely the streets ''Rua da Viscondessa do Espinhal'', ''Rua das Forças Armadas'' and ''Rua Nova'', where many of the towns Baroque-era solars are situated. The ''Misericórdia'' and other edifices of public interest, including the unattached ''Casal do Rio'', with its palace and surrounding homes.

It is practically at the end of the 19th century that Lousã began to expand beyond its 17th century arteries, resulting in new buildings and collective structures: the hospital (which began operating in 1888); the new parochial church (also at the end of the century); the public slaughterhouse (in 1893); and the old theater, amongst others.

Emigration, that included immigration to Lisbon, began to Brazil at the end of the 19th century, progressing later to the United States and then Europe.

The inauguration of the railway in 1906, broke the region's isolation, which was complemented by the construction of several roadways. In 1924, the first electric lighting of the municipality was completed.

In the final decades of the 20th century, the area occupied by the town doubled, gained new territory and constructing modern neighborhoods, with primary and secondary schools, a fire station and new palace of justice. Apart from these modern facades, the old town still remains, with many of the older buildings, with their ornate windows and elaborated frames and cornices.

Geography

Located in the central part of Portugal, the municipality of Lousa, is part of the old district of Coimbra, in the subregion of Pinhal Interior Norte, in the east by Góis and Miranda do Corvo, and in the south by Castanheira de Pêra and Figueiró dos Vinhos

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