Mortágua is a Portuguese village in the district of Viseu, located in the province of Beira Alta, in the Center region (Beiras Region) and sub-region in the Coimbra Region, with 2,793 inhabitants.
It is the seat of the municipality of Mortágua with an area of 251.18 km² and 9,607 inhabitants (2011), divided into 7 parishes. The municipality is limited to the north by the municipality of Águeda, to the northeast by Tondela, to the east by Santa Comba Dão, to the south by Penacova and to the west by Mealhada and Anadia. It is part of the Intermunicipal Community of the Region of Coimbra.
Parishes
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 7 civil parishes (freguesias):CercosaEspinho
Marmeleira
Mortágua, Vale de Remígio, Cortegaça e Almaça
Pala
Sobral
Trezói
History
It is considered that the first human communities settled in the current territory of Portugal, around 1,500,000 years ago, as well as in the current territory of the municipality of Mortágua. Proof of this is the fact that archaeological remains dating from the Paleolithic period have been found in some municipalities neighboring Mortágua, mainly in the municipalities of Anadia and Mealhada. In addition, even in the municipality of Mortágua, it is believed that there are traces of rock art, in the northern part of the municipality, near the village of Mortazel, in the parish of Sobral.
Around the year 218 BC, the Romans invaded the Iberian Peninsula, in the region of the municipality of Mortágua, waging numerous fights with the Lusitanian people, who previously lived here. After the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula by the Romans, and the subsequent "Romanization", it is believed that it crossed the territory of the current municipality, a Roman road that made the connection between the coast and the interior of the Iberian region.
In the town of Quinta do Vau there is a Roman coat of arms.
A few centuries later, during the Christian Reconquest, after the Arab invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, it is assumed that Mortágua was reconquered somewhere between 1058 and 1064, which are, respectively, the years of the reconquest of Viseu and Coimbra.
TOURISM
Discover the Municipality of Mortágua
Embraced by the Caramulo and Buçaco mountains, with the Albufeira da Aguieira at its feet, the Municipality of Mortágua has in itself a tourist space waiting to be discovered by those who like to enjoy life outdoors and enjoy the varied treasures of nature which are still in a virgin state.The green of the forest extends over 85% of the entire territory, disappearing into the confines of the horizon. For lovers of motor sports and contact with nature, we offer an extensive network of forest roads that could be the stage for unforgettable adventures. Living up to its name, water is a resource that exists in abundance. Running freely through hills and valleys, we can find countless rivers and streams of crystalline waters, which continue to move the traditional windmills, and next to them hide and safeguard some native forest species, creating in some points waterfalls, small waterfalls and meandering labyrinths, of great natural beauty.
The Municipality of Mortágua is a labyrinth of forest paths, pastoral trails, mountain villages and valleys that reveal the serenity of the rural world... a destination for hikers!
Walking the trails is the perfect way to appreciate the nature and beauty of the landscape that Mortágua has to offer. There are many trails that invite us to walk through an abundant and attractive vegetation and fauna, an example of which are the existing pedestrian routes in the Municipality, (PR1 MRT Pedestrian Route of the Waterfalls of Paredes; PR2 MRT Pedestrian Route of Fraga; Urban Route da Ribeira da Fraga; GR48 Great Route of Mondego; GR49 Great Route of Bussaco and CNE - Natural Path of Spirituality).
But those who visit us to learn more about Mortágua in this period of Portugal's history will be able to find not only the historical and cultural heritage, but also the specialty of our municipality: the traditional Lampantana, whose confection hides "secrets" that make it in a unique dish of flavor and texture.
Although we are scientifically unaware of the origin of this delicacy, we keep a story from previous generations that seeks to explain it. It is said that, when the Napoleonic troops passed through the region, the populations would have poisoned the waters to kill the invading troops. As it was necessary to cook the meat, wine was used as a resource, another of the ex libris of our municipality.With the aim of publicizing, promoting and preserving this dish of the municipality's traditional cuisine, the Municipality annually holds the event "Fim de Semana da Lampantana", which takes place on the last weekend of October.
To this dish we add an unexpected Bolo de Cornos, the Pastel Juiz de Fora and the famous quality of the Dão wines produced here.
National Road Route 2 (EN2)
Estrada Nacional 2 (EN2) is the longest road in Portugal, connecting the city of Chaves, in Trás-os-Montes, to the city of Faro, in the Algarve.
With a length of 738.5 km, the National Road Route 2 passes through 11 districts and 35 municipalities, it is the third longest road in the world, after “Route 66” in the United States of America (USA) and “Ruta 40” from Argentina.
Traveling along the EN2 is not just about discovering the country from North to South, but also about stories, mountains, rivers, gastronomy and the stories of a people with a soul.
The National Road Route Route 2 Municipalities Association, of which the municipality of Mortágua is a part, launched the EN2 Passport. This aims to encourage national and foreign tourists to travel the entire route, collecting stamps from all the municipalities that are part of it.
The places in the Municipality of Mortágua where you can get your passport stamped are:
From Monday to Friday
From 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm – Mortágua Tourist Office and Mortágua Town Hall.
Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays - Mortágua Volunteer Firefighters and “Pousadinha do Dão” pastry shop (next to Mortágua Town Hall).
