Bordeira
Encyclopedia
Bordeira is a Portuguese
civil parish
in the municipality of Aljezur. It lies within the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
, in an area of approximately 79.87 km², along the western coast of the Algarve. The region, typical of the Algarve coastal areas, are dotted with many beaches, with the most important being the beaches of Praia do Amado and Praia da Carrapateira, that attracts both local and tourist vacationers.
The church in Carrapateira (Nossa Senhora da Conceição) dates back to the 17th century (1673). But, owing to pirate attacks, the population of the small hamlet petition (1673) the King to construct a protective fort, that would both protect its citizens from attacks and its church from pillage. The governor and Captain-General of the Kingdom, Nuno da Cunha de Ataíde, Count of Pontevel was charged with its construction. By 1742, during the reign of John V, the fort was repaired by the Count of Atouguia (at the time the fort was armed with 6 mortars and trooped by 11 soldiers). In the aftermath of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake
, the church suffered some damage, but by 1765 repair of the fort had already reached 100$000 réis
. But this was the beginning of a slow deterioration of the structure.
Until 1837, the parishes of Carrapateira and Bordeira were actually separate ecclesisastical administrative divisions, of the neighbouring municipality of Vila do Bispo. When these two parishes were converted reallocated during the administrative reforms of Mouzinha de Silveira's government, they were integrated into one one parish, and the parish transferred to the settlement of Bordeira which was more secular located in the interior.
, east by the parish of Bensafrim
and south-east by the parish of Barão de São João (both in the municipality of Lagos
and south by the parish of Vila do Bispo (in the municipality of the same name).
The main village of Bordeira is a fairly new one, with wide streets, planted with rows of palms and flowerbeds. It is highlighted by its small chapel, constructed after the 1755 Earthquake, heavily carved with gilded interior and retable
. The church is dedicated to the patron, Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (Our Lady of the Incarnation).
The parish seat is nestled in a small basin of the Ribeira do Bordeira, surrounded by protected green countryside. Unlike other small villages that are just whitewashed, the buildings in Bordeira are painted with vibrant colours, highlighting the features of each surface. With many small cobble stone roads, orange and lemon trees and fig orchards, the seat resembles a traditional village, with some of the homes staggered above one another. There is a main café, aptly named Café da Bordeira, that offers light snacks and a limited selection for lunch, while shops and other snack bars cater to the local people. Older buildings have been re-purposed to attract more tourists, including the communal bake oven/house, now been converted in to living accommodation.
Bordeira is better remembered for its beachfront and sand dunes, popular with surfers who visit Praia da Bordeira for its winds and large waves. Just outside the main village of Bordeira, is a surfacing camp.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
civil parish
Freguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
in the municipality of Aljezur. It lies within the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park is a natural park in the Alentejo Region of south-central Portugal.It is one of the 30 Natural Park areas which are officially under Portuguese protection in the country.-see also:...
, in an area of approximately 79.87 km², along the western coast of the Algarve. The region, typical of the Algarve coastal areas, are dotted with many beaches, with the most important being the beaches of Praia do Amado and Praia da Carrapateira, that attracts both local and tourist vacationers.
History
The church in Carrapateira (Nossa Senhora da Conceição) dates back to the 17th century (1673). But, owing to pirate attacks, the population of the small hamlet petition (1673) the King to construct a protective fort, that would both protect its citizens from attacks and its church from pillage. The governor and Captain-General of the Kingdom, Nuno da Cunha de Ataíde, Count of Pontevel was charged with its construction. By 1742, during the reign of John V, the fort was repaired by the Count of Atouguia (at the time the fort was armed with 6 mortars and trooped by 11 soldiers). In the aftermath of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake
1755 Lisbon earthquake
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, was a megathrust earthquake that took place on Saturday 1 November 1755, at around 9:40 in the morning. The earthquake was followed by fires and a tsunami, which almost totally destroyed Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal, and...
, the church suffered some damage, but by 1765 repair of the fort had already reached 100$000 réis
Portuguese real
The real was the unit of currency of Portugal from around 1430 until 1911. It replaced the dinheiro at the rate of 1 real = 840 dinheiros and was itself replaced by the escudo at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 réis...
. But this was the beginning of a slow deterioration of the structure.
Until 1837, the parishes of Carrapateira and Bordeira were actually separate ecclesisastical administrative divisions, of the neighbouring municipality of Vila do Bispo. When these two parishes were converted reallocated during the administrative reforms of Mouzinha de Silveira's government, they were integrated into one one parish, and the parish transferred to the settlement of Bordeira which was more secular located in the interior.
Geography
The civil parish is located along the western coast of Portugal, in the southern limit of the municipality of Sabroa, bordered in the north by the civil parish of AljezurAljezur (parish)
Aljezur is a parish in the municipality of Aljezur in Portugal. It covers an area of 167.36 km² and had a population of 2,687 as of 2001.The area consists of Vale da Telha, Arrifana, Espartal, Vales, and Picao de Baixo...
, east by the parish of Bensafrim
Bensafrim
Bensafrim is a village in the Portuguese community of Lagos and has about 1600 inhabitants .The name comes from the Arabic word Benassaharim. It used to be an agrarian community. Until the 50's of the past century the most important means of transportation were the ox and the donkey...
and south-east by the parish of Barão de São João (both in the municipality of Lagos
Lagos, Portugal
Lagos is a municipality at the mouth of Bensafrim River and along the Atlantic Ocean, in the Barlavento region of the Algarve, in southern Portugal....
and south by the parish of Vila do Bispo (in the municipality of the same name).
The main village of Bordeira is a fairly new one, with wide streets, planted with rows of palms and flowerbeds. It is highlighted by its small chapel, constructed after the 1755 Earthquake, heavily carved with gilded interior and retable
Retable
A retable is a framed altarpiece, raised slightly above the back of the altar or communion table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlesticks and other ornaments....
. The church is dedicated to the patron, Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (Our Lady of the Incarnation).
The parish seat is nestled in a small basin of the Ribeira do Bordeira, surrounded by protected green countryside. Unlike other small villages that are just whitewashed, the buildings in Bordeira are painted with vibrant colours, highlighting the features of each surface. With many small cobble stone roads, orange and lemon trees and fig orchards, the seat resembles a traditional village, with some of the homes staggered above one another. There is a main café, aptly named Café da Bordeira, that offers light snacks and a limited selection for lunch, while shops and other snack bars cater to the local people. Older buildings have been re-purposed to attract more tourists, including the communal bake oven/house, now been converted in to living accommodation.
Bordeira is better remembered for its beachfront and sand dunes, popular with surfers who visit Praia da Bordeira for its winds and large waves. Just outside the main village of Bordeira, is a surfacing camp.
Civic
- Escola Primaria de Carrapateira (Primary School of Carrapateira)
- Museu do Mar e da terra (Museum of the Sea and Land)
Religious
.- Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Fátima (Our Lady of Fatima) was inaugurated in May 1959.
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (Our Lady of the Incarnation), or Matriz Church of Bordeira, was constructed following the 1755 Earthquake and tsunami, in a simple style consisting of one nave, presented by a triumphal arch, high alter, with Baroque era styling, but with a Manueline-era portico that gives access to the local cemetery (which was not its original function);
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição (and Fort of Carrapateira), the 17th century fortress and religious platform that protected the village of Carrapateira until the end of the 18th century