View source for Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province

{{about|the 1936-1976 Province|the historical and cultural region|Trás-os-Montes (region)}}
{{Coord|41|17|43.696|N|7|44|46.550|W|display=title}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2021}}
[[Image:Região Trás os Montes e Alto Douro.png|thumb|150px|The historical province of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro]]
'''Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro''' ({{IPA|pt|ˌtɾaz uʒ ˈmõtɨz i ˈaltu ˈðoɾu}}) is a historical province of [[Portugal]] located in the northeastern corner of the country, known for its scenery, which includes plateaux, river valleys, mountains, and castles.
==History==
A first attempt to register its constitution was made under the reign of King [[Sancho II of Portugal|Sancho II]] (1223–1248). A second was made in the reign of his son and successor, [[Afonso III of Portugal|Afonso III]] (1248–1279), under the [[Inquirições]] or royal commissions in 1258, intending to base the territory of Trás-os-Montes on so-called "new towns" under direct control of the Crown. Afonso III gave it its charter in 1253, referring to the town, "a hill opposite the Crespos", which already had a core of settlements organized around the Church of St. Facundo.
Since 1833<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Traz-os-Montes|volume=27|pages=222–223}}</ref> the region has been divided into two districts on the right (northern) bank of the [[Douro river]] &mdash; [[Vila Real, Portugal|Vila Real]] and [[Bragança (district)|Bragança]], with 5 other municipalities on the south bank of the Douro river included in the districts of [[Viseu District|Viseu]] and [[Guarda District|Guarda]]. The name &mdash; Beyond-the-Mountains and Upper Douro &mdash; refers to the location on the "other" (eastern) side of such mountains as Marão, Alvão and Gerês, which separate the coast from the interior, and along the upper valley of the [[Douro River]]. This isolation kept the province poor and underpopulated for centuries, causing many people to move to the coast or emigrate to other European countries such as [[France]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[Switzerland]], and to [[Brazil]].
The most important towns in the region are [[Vila Real, Portugal|Vila Real]], [[Bragança, Portugal|Bragança]], [[Chaves (Portugal)|Chaves]], [[Mirandela]], [[Macedo de Cavaleiros]], [[Lamego]], [[Peso da Régua]], [[Mogadouro]], [[Miranda do Douro]] and [[Valpaços]].  All are relatively small, with less than 50 000 inhabitants. Many people in the region still live in small villages.  Traditionally these villages were cut off from the coast due to the lack of good roads, and suffered the effects of poverty and isolation. Emigration was often the only option. Today the situation has improved with better roads, but most villages are still losing population as youngsters there move to bigger towns for a better life.
In small villages the ageing inhabitants still eke out a living from small farms.  [[Maize|Corn]], [[rye]], [[potato]]es, [[wheat]], [[olive oil]], [[chestnut]]s, and [[grape]]s for [[wine]] (namely [[Port wine]]) have been the main agricultural products.  Granite and mineral water are also important industries.
There is a popular saying: "Beyond [[Serra do Marão|Marão]], those who rule are those who're there" ("Para lá do Marão mandam os que lá estão").  Lisbon has paid little attention to this area until recent years.  According to Padre Fontes, a local ethnographer, "in this centuries-old "corner of the corner of Europe", alone, in a struggle against the harsh soil and inclement climate, a character was formed: "that of the sad demeanor, the mistrusting air, courageous, daring, hardworking, loyal, and with strength of character a way of life." ''Etnografia Transmontana, Lisbon, 1992''
The Transmontanos are known in Portugal for their often plentiful table, usually filled with wine, olive oil, sausage and bread.
==Municipalities==
The historical province of ''Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro'' included 31 municipalities, divided between four districts ([[Vila Real (district)|Vila Real]], [[Bragança (district)|Bragança]], [[Viseu (district)|Viseu]] and [[Guarda (district)|Guarda]]), that include:
;[[Vila Real (district)|Vila Real]] (14 municipalities):
{{colbegin}}
* [[Alijó]]
* [[Boticas]]
* [[Chaves, Portugal|Chaves]]
* [[Mesão Frio]]
* [[Mondim de Basto]]
* [[Montalegre]]
* [[Murça]]
* [[Peso da Régua]]
* [[Ribeira de Pena]]
* [[Sabrosa Municipality|Sabrosa]]
* [[Santa Marta de Penaguião]]
* [[Valpaços]]
* [[Vila Pouca de Aguiar]]
* [[Vila Real, Portugal|Vila Real]]
{{colend}}
;[[Bragança (district)|Bragança]] (12 municipalities)
{{colbegin}}
* [[Alfândega da Fé]]
* [[Bragança Municipality|Bragança]]
* [[Carrazeda de Ansiães]]
* [[Freixo de Espada-à-Cinta]]
* [[Macedo de Cavaleiros]]
* [[Miranda do Douro]]
* [[Mirandela]]
* [[Mogadouro]]
* [[Torre de Moncorvo]]
* [[Vila Flor]]
* [[Vimioso]]
* [[Vinhais]]
{{colend}}
;[[Viseu (district)|Viseu]] (4 of 24 municipalities)
{{colbegin}}
* [[Armamar]]
* [[Lamego]]
* [[São João da Pesqueira]]
* [[Tabuaço]]
{{colend}}
;[[Guarda (district)|Guarda]] (1 of 14 municipalities)
* [[Vila Nova de Foz Côa]]
In 1998 there was a [[referendum]] on the creation of new Administrative Regions. The proposed region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro included these 31 municipalities, plus [[Mêda]], also from the [[District of Guarda]]. The referendum had low participation (less than the required 50% to be mandatory), but the No won and the Administrative Regions were not created.
==Culture==
[[File:Mask Diabo of Portugal used on folk fest and rituals.jpg|thumb|Mask Diabo used on folk fest of Carnaval.]]
Due to the region's isolation from outside influence, many folkloric forms have remained preserved up to the modern day.  One example would be the area's distinctive traditional bagpipe, the ''[[gaita transmontana]]''.  Not only did Trás-os-Montes maintain a piping tradition as bagpipes in general declined throughout Europe, but the regional bagpipe also shows many aspects of pre-modern musical scales which have been preserved.
Also, it's in this region that is spoken the second official language of Portugal, the [[Mirandese language]].
==See also==
*[[Trás-os-Montes]]
*[[Tras-os-Montes VR]]
*[[Cão de Gado Transmontano]], is a large molosser working dog breed, originating in the region of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province.
==External links==
{{commons|Trás-os-Montes|Trás-os-Montes}}
{{Wikivoyage|Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro}}
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.trasosmontes.com/ Portal de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro]
{{Historical provinces of Portugal}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tras-Os-Montes E Alto Douro Province}}
[[Category:Provinces of Portugal (1936–1976)]]