| Type: | municipality |
| Official Name: | Águeda |
| Flag Border: | no |
| Image Location: | LocalAgueda.svg |
| Region: | Centro |
| Cim: | Região de Aveiro |
| District: | Aveiro |
| Parishes: | 11 |
| Leader Name: | Jorge Almeida PPD/PSD.MPT |
| Coordinates: | 40.5744°N -8.4481°W |
| Area Total: | 335.27 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Total: | 46131 |
| Patron: | Saint Eulalia |
| Postal Code: | 3750 |
| Area Code: | 234 |
Águeda (pronounced as /pt-PT/) is a city and a municipality in Portugal. According to the Portuguese 2011 census, the municipality of Águeda had 47,729 inhabitants,[1] in an area of 335.27km2.[2] The city proper had a population of 14,504 (2001 data),[3] while the remainder is distributed in 11 parishes, within the Baixo Vouga Subregion.
Águeda has been a municipal seat since 1834 and has had official city status since 1985. It was built on a foundation of successive Celt, Turduli and Lusitanian inhabitants since 370 BC.[4]
Ancient occupation of this area dates back to the Bronze Age, marked by diverse megalithic monuments, including the archaeological site at Cabeço do Vouga, an important Roman military fortification along routes from Olissipo (Lisbon) to Bracara Augusta (Braga).[4]
In the 9th century, Águeda was a prosperous borough, with stable commerce and an active port that supported local and regional businesses.[4] It was mentioned in documents from 1050 to 1077, by its primitive name Casal Lousado (Latin: Casāle Lausātum), or by its anglicized forms: Anegia, Agatha and Ágada; by the 9th century, this settlement was referred to as Ágata.[4] In a document dated 1050, there is mention of several villages situated within the current borders, many with names originating from Arab languages.
Águeda never achieved a foral during the Middle Ages, in contrast to its neighbors, it was considered regal lands and dominions of the monasteries of Lorvão and Vacariça.[4] It functioned as an ancillary center on the road to Santiago de Compostela, and the river-side village was most certainly visited by Queen Isabel (S. Elizabeth of Portugal) in 1325, during her customary pilgrimages to the religious center.[4]
A new phase of settlement occurred after the establishment of the Kingdom of Portugal, from the 11th–12th century: although its inhabitants prospered, and had many privileges, their representatives from Aveiro in the Cortes of Évora (1451), never requested a foral declaration.[4] King D. Manuel I included Águeda in a general foral granted to Aveiro, in 1515, but was only, later, provided a separate charter.[4]
In 1834, Águeda ascended to the category of municipal seat, as a consequence of the Portuguese Liberal Revolution, when major administrative reforms were initiated.[4] Its important political place and strategic politico-military position allowed Águeda to support military troops during the second French Invasion, when it functioned as military hospital.[4] Resulting from the administrative reform, Águeda began its political career in the shadow of great change, and many of its citizens were important land reformers.[4] The municipality of Águeda was established on 31 December 1853, and integrated many older concelhos of medieval origins long since extinct, including Aguada de Cima, Castanheira do Vouga and Préstimo.[4]
As a frontier city located between the sea and land, it occupies a privileged position, serviced by both railroads and an expanding road network.[4] These advancements allowed the economic and social development of the region and placed Águeda in an important position, resulting in its growth and development.[4] On 14 August 1985, Águeda was elevated to the category of city by law.
The municipality of Águeda is administratively integrated into the district of Aveiro, in the former region of Beira Litoral; it is located 240km (150miles) from Lisbon, 72km (45miles) from Porto and 20km (10miles) from Aveiro.
It is situated in the hydrographic basin of the River Vouga, limited in the north by the Vouga, the south by the river Cértima, to the east by the Serra do Caramulo (Caramulo mountains) and west by the lowlands of the Ria de Aveiro. These frontiers establish Águeda in a central position, in a transition zone between the coastal zones and interior, thus affording the municipality with various socio-economic advantages. In addition to the mentioned rivers, the area is also delimited by the River Marnel, and the tributaries of the River Águeda: the River Alfusqueiro, Agadão and Dornes ravine.[5]
The Pateira de Fermentelos, shortly known as Pateira, is a natural lake located within the triangle of the municipalities of Águeda, Aveiro and Oliveira do Bairro, before the confluence of the Cértima and Águeda rivers. It is the largest natural lake in the Iberian peninsula, rich in diverse species of bird, fish and aquatic plants.
Since the implementation of the national administrative reform in January 2013, the municipality includes 11 civil parishes (freguesias), resulting from the politico-administrative fusion of several of the former 20 parishes. These parishes handle local-level administrative tasks, which include provision of municipal and social services and are detailed in the following table:[7]
| Name | Area (km2) | Population (2011)[8] | Seat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28.39 | 4 013 | Aguada de Cima | ||
| 36.03 | 13 576 | Águeda | ||
| 10.19 | 3 209 | Barrô | ||
| 88.09 | 1 611 | Castanheira do Vouga | ||
| 8.58 | 3 258 | Fermentelos | ||
| 31.95 | 3 406 | Macinhata do Vouga | ||
| 41.73 | 808 | Préstimo | ||
| 19.92 | 6 036 | Recardães | ||
| 11.12 | 2 305 | Travassô | ||
| 16.07 | 4 630 | Trofa | ||
| 43.20 | 4 877 | Valongo do Vouga |
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal. Águeda is twinned with:[9]
Rio Grande, Brasil, since 16 November 1993
Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, since 10 March 1995
Ferrol, Spain, since 26 August 1999
Sint-Gillis-Waas, Belgium, since 25 August 2000Águeda is an important commercial and industrial center, located in an extremely fertile area. The gastronomical and economical region where it is inserted, known as the Bairrada, encompasses many of the local civil parishes and is well known for its vineyards and wine industry, as well as its suckling roasted pig (Leitão Assado à Bairrada).
It has also developed a strong industry, mainly based on the production of motorized and common bicycles and on civil construction. In 2001, 60% of the resident population was employed in the secondary sector, yet between 1991 and 2001 there has been a 53% increase in those employed in tertiary sector, while there has been a 78.4% decrease in secondary sector throughout the municipality.[10]
Part of the litoral area, the region is crossed by elements of the north-south Porto-Lisbon roadway, and served by intramunicipal roads connecting it with Albergaria-a-Velha (in the north), Oiã (in the south), along the A25 and EN333, and the major EN1/IC2 motorway, that produces the major traffic influx of the region. To reach Águeda, there are essentially three distinct roadways: the EN230 (that connects Aveiro to Caramulo), the EN333 (linking Oiã to the A25, in Talhadas) and the EN336, by way of the EN230 to Mortágua. Still further, the municipality is crossed in the north by the A25, that links Aveiro and Vilar Formoso, resulting in reduced traffic along the EN1/IC2 and EN333.
Even within the municipality, a 21082km (13,100miles) line of railway lines of the Vouga line, that links Aveiro and Sernada do Vouga, provides daily direct commuter service to railstops within the region.
There are several sites of cultural significance and landscapes within the municipality that the local authority has attempted to preserve in order to promote tourism; resulting in the establishment of infrastructures and services to preserve these examples of local patrimony.
Among its traditional artisan products, the region is recognized for its traditional clay pottery, handmade baskets, knitted craft-works and tannery products.
The suckling roasted pig in the style of Bairrada is the most significant contribution to gastronomy in the region, although sweets are not far behind: pasteis de Águeda (English: custard), barriga de freira, fuzis and sequilhos, in addition to the padas da Veiga. Other common dishes in this region: chanfana, rojões, carne à lampantana or caldeirada de peixe (English: fish stew), all great meals that are accompanied by local wines and sparkling drinks from the cellars of the Bairrada region.
Alongside to the handmade production and the gastronomy, Águeda is also known for its cultural traditions. There are several ethnographical groups and cultural associations representing many local civil parishes and also important choirs, such as the Orfeão de Águeda.
The municipality promotes many sport-related activities in the communities of Águeda, in order to foster participation and improve healthy living throughout its parishes. These initiatives include a walking and running program (Centro Municipal de Marcha e Corrida), support for many athletic clubs and leagues within its borders and the maintenance and operation of a municipal pool for local residents.
Apart from those athletes mentioned above, the municipality has been the residency of many importance citizens, including: