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.[ 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
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whic ...
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
A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified ...
was constructed.[ Coimbra, at the time, was the central place in the ]Mozarab
The Mozarabs ( es, mozárabes ; pt, moçárabes ; ca, mossàrabs ; from ar, مستعرب, musta‘rab, lit=Arabized) is a modern historical term for the Iberian Christians, including Christianized Iberian Jews, who lived under Muslim rule in A ...
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]