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Chaves, Portugal This section is divided into four parts: Introduction | Location and Communications | The Climate | The Tâmega River
Old Chaves looking down on the main church (photo from Câmara Municipal de Chaves: Guia do Munícipe ) Chaves
is a provincial town in the north of Portugal, in the district of Vila
Real and the historical region called
Tras-os-Montes.
(See
map of the Chaves area)
The Roman Aqua Flaviae,
it is still known for its hot springs and baths.
The town has a history dating back to pre-Roman times.
With a substantial stone bridge over the Rio Tâmega built in the
reign of Trajan (98-117), it became an important staging point on the
road between Asturica Augusta (Astorga, near León) and Bracara
Augusta (Braga). During
the Middle Ages it was a stronghold defending Portuguese territory
against Spain. The powerful
castle of Chaves, rearing above the white houses of the town with their
balconies and arcades, still presents a sturdy defensive face to the
world. The
common surname Chaves and its variation Chavez is thought by many to
have its origin in the name of the town. Chavez--the
origin
discusses the historical roots of the Spanish surname, and Chaves-clan
the Portuguese and Brazilian one. Modern
Chaves is a prosperous center with a population of about 13,000 in the
urban area (See map of downtown
Chaves), relying on its agricultural production (wine, potatoes,
flowers, rye, and vegetables), its hot springs, the fame of is ham, its
football team that has often been in the first division, and its
location in the location in the verdant valley of the Tãmega River
overlooked on the east by the Brunheiro
Mountains.
Largo do Monumento (photo from Câmara Municipal de Chaves: Guia do Munícipe ) Although
Chaves means “keys” in Portuguese, this is not the derivation of the
name of the city. The
ancient Aquae Flaviae (waters
of Flavius) was much later shortened to Flavias,
and local mispronunciation eventually produced the current name.
Like León in Spain, which derives from legio
and not “lion” and uses the lion as its symbol, Chaves does not feel
embarrassed in using the symbol of the keys on everything connected to
the town.
The Chaves Coat of Arms The Climate | The Tâmega River
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