The keep tower of the Castle of Belver, constructed by theKnights Hospitaller
On 13 June 1194, the region of Belver was donated by KingSancho I of Portugal to theKnights Hospitaller, with the condition that the knights were required to build a castle in the site.[3]
Between 1383 and 1385, Belver aligned itself with the forces ofLeonor Telles de Menezes against the Master of Avis.[3]
In the 16th century, the parochial church was constructed. On 18 May 1518, KingManuel I of Portugal conceded aforal (charter) to Belver.[3]
In the 17th century, the village was surveyed by Pedro Nunes Tinoco, and determined to be under the authority of the Priory of Crato.[3]
In 1836, the municipality of Belver was extinguished and the region was integrated into the municipality ofMação.[3] This remained in effect until the end of the century, when in 1898 it was integrated into the municipality ofGavião.[3]
In 1905 a bridge was completed over theRibeira de Belver.[3]
Belver is the northernmost civil parish of the municipality, and the only on the northern margin of the Tagus River (the remaining parishes of Gavião are on lands south of the Tagus). It is bordered byGavião andAtalaia parishes (in the south), while surrounded by the parishes of Envendos, Mação and Ortiga (in the neighbouring municipality ofMação) to the northeast, north and northwest, respectively. It is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the urban centre of Gavião along the left margin of the Tagus.
The parish is situated in river valley, 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the right margin of theTagus River, along the confluence of theRibeira de Belver.[3] Its highest elevation is occupied by the 150 metres (490 ft) hilltop surmounted by theCastle of Belver, while the urban area is 125 metres (410 ft) above sea level. Surrounding these hilltops are several olive orchards.[3]
It is accessible by rail-link (the Beira Baixa railway), with its stop in the city centre. Alternatively, the main access is along the A23/IP6/E806 motorway (Auto-Estrada da Beira-Interior), passing through the northern part of the parish, then 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) south to the Tagus basin.
^Gordalina, Rosário (1991). SIPA (ed.)."Anta do Penedo Gordo (PT041209020003)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived fromthe original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved30 October 2012.
^Camara, Teresa (2004). SIPA (ed.)."Barragem do Belver (PT041209020009)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived fromthe original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved30 October 2012.
^Figueiredo, Paula (2010). SIPA (ed.)."Museu de Domingos da Vinha (PT041209020014)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived fromthe original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved30 October 2012.
^Figueiredo, Paula (2010). SIPA (ed.)."Fonte Velha em Degracia (PT041209020013)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived fromthe original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved30 October 2012.
^Gordalina, Rosário; Bucho, Domingos (1998). SIPA (ed.)."Castelo de Belver (PT041209020001)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived fromthe original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved30 October 2012.
^Mantas, Helena; Gama, Marta (2001). SIPA (ed.)."Capela de São Brás (PT041209020006)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived fromthe original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved30 October 2012.
^Gordalina, Rosário; Macedo, Sousa (1999). SIPA (ed.)."Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Pilar (PT041209020004)" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived fromthe original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved30 October 2012.
Sources
Costa, António Carvalho da (1706),Corografia Portuguesa (in Portuguese), vol. II, Lisbon, Portugal, p. 586
Viterbo, Sousa (1904),Diccionario Historico e Documental dos Architectos, Engenheiros e Construtores Portuguezes ou a serviço de Portugal (in Portuguese), vol. III, Lisbon, Portugal: Imprensa Nacional
Tinoco, Pedro Nunes (1620), Cernache do Bonjardim (ed.),Livro das Plantas e Perfis das Igrejas e Vilas do Priorado do Crato (in Portuguese), CMU
Portugal
