Trás-os-Montes

Portuguese for "behind the mountains", Trás-os-Montes is located northeast of the country in an upland area, landlocked by the Douro and Tâmega rivers to south and west and by the Spanish communities of Galicia and Castile and León to the north and east.On the other hand, its extreme continentality also contributed to the lack of development, which led its inhabitants to seek better conditions on the coast or emigrate to other European countries such as France, Luxembourg and Switzerland, and to Brazil.The name of Trás-os-Montes refers to the location to the east of mountains such as Marão, Alvão and Gerês, which separate the interior from the coast, and which form a valley around the Douro River.These natural barriers have kept this region of Portugal depopulated and poor for several centuries, being the reason that many of its inhabitants were forced to emigrate to the coast or to other countries such as Brazil, France, Luxembourg or Switzerland.Traditionally these villages were disconnected from the coast due to the lack of good roads, and thus suffered the effects of poverty and isolation.In the small villages, agricultural activity is maintained at a good pace, so that it is still possible to obtain good: corn, wheat, olive oil, chestnuts and some delicate grapes widely used in the production of wine from the region (called port wine) as well as a large number of natural agricultural products.Undoubtedly the most important hydroelectric infrastructure in the region is the Alto Douro Vinhateiro navigation channel, which makes it possible for tourist cruises to transit from Porto to the Spanish border at Barca d’Alva.In addition to Portuguese, in the northeastern corner of the region, known as Tierra de Miranda, Mirandese is spoken, a dialect of the Asturian language, which is officially recognized in Trás-os-Montes under Law No.Interrupting the long silences of each winter, as if secretly and unpredictably emerging from the corners of Podence, the Caretos and their frenzied cowbells appear well crossed in the colored stripes of the thick blankets of their suits.[1] Until the 17th century, the Province of Trás-os-Montes constituted a correctional office, administered by a corregedor (a magistrate with judicial and administrative functions).At the beginning of the 19th century, Trás-os-Montes included the districts of Bragança, Miranda, Torre de Moncorvo and Vila Real.
Typical architecture of Trás-os-Montes, in Picote , Miranda do Douro , Douro International Natural Park
Mask Diabo used on folk fest of Carnaval.
Group of Caretos in the streets of the village of Podence
The piper Manuel Francisco Aires, better known as the Tio Pascoal
Alheira , a traditional enchido from Trás-os-Montes
The northeasternmost, then Province of " Tra-los-Montes " seen on a 1710 map of Portugal
Trás-os-Montes (disambiguation)RegionAlijóTrás-os-Montes e Alto Douro ProvincePortugalBragançaVila RealDemonymPortugueseuplandSpanish communitiesGaliciaCastile and LeóncontinentalityemigrateFranceLuxembourgSwitzerlandBrazilPicoteMiranda do DouroDouro International Natural ParkMarãoAlvãoGerêsDouro RiverTâmega RiverGeomorphologicallyGalician MassifNorth Region of PortugalChavesMirandelaMacedo de CavaleirosLamegoPeso da RéguaValpaçosport wineMediterraneanoceanichumid subtropical climatethunderstormsAzores HighMontesinho Natural ParkPeneda-Gerês National ParkAlto Douro VinhateiroSerra do AlvãoSerra do MarãoPeneda-GerêsMontesinhoDouro InternationalSabor RiverTua RiverCorgo RiverTâmegaAlto RabagãoAzibo RiverAzibo reservoirMirandaBempostaAldeadávilaSaucelleBarca d’AlvaPocinhoValeiraRéguaCarrapateloCrestuma-LeverAlto Rabagão DamCarrapatelo LockBemposta DamTierra de MirandaMirandeseAsturian languageSIL InternationalUnescoPodenceIntangible Cultural Heritage of HumanityLeonese RegionAldeadávila de la RiberaProvince of SalamancaProvince of ZamoraGaita transmontanaGalician bagpipeScottish bagpipeethnomusicologistssanabresaalistanaenchidoschestnutsAlheirawild boarcabritocozido à portuguesamilho-brancoBacalhaupuddingPapos-de-anjoToucinho-do-céuTrás-os-Montes ProvinceAlto Trás-os-MontesTerras de Trás-os-MontesComarcaProvincecorregedormagistrateTorre de MoncorvoProvince of Entre-Douro-e-MinhoTrás-os-Montes and Alto DouroEstado NovoGeology of the Iberian PeninsulaTrás-os-Montes (film)Diário da República