| Type: | municipality |
| Image Location: | LocalPesoDaRegua.svg |
| Region: | Norte |
| Cim: | Douro |
| District: | Vila Real |
| Parishes: | 8 |
| Leader Name: | José Manuel Gonçalves |
| Leader Party: | PSD |
| Coordinates: | 41.1653°N -7.7764°W |
| Elevation: | 255 |
| Area Total: | 94.86 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Total: | 17,131 |
| Postal Code: | 5054 |
| Area Code: | 254 |
Regua leads here. For American major general, see Eldon ReguaPeso da Régua (pronounced as /pt/), commonly known as Régua, is a city and municipality in northern Portugal, in the district of Vila Real. The population in 2011 was 17,131[1] (of which approximately 10,000 are in the town of Régua), in an area of 94.86km² km².[2]
Peso da Régua was inhabited by Roman and barbarian invasions during the early part of the settled history. Its name, as historians have suggested, developed from a few places: first, the name Vila Reggula a Roman estate that at one time existed near the historic centre; others suggest it originated from the word récua (the ships that plied the waters along the Douro); or derived the word reguengo (a designation for lands that were attributed to the monarchy).[3] Peso da Régua may also have its origin in the word regra (English: rule), alluding to the hereditary rights of descendants achieved through forals.[3] This theory is based on the donation of lands by Counts Henrique and Hugo in 1093, which were transferred to Egas Moniz.[3] It is likely that this rule gave origin to the word Régoa, and later Régua.[3] In relation to the first word, Peso, there are two opinions on its origin: the first, defends that it was derived from the place where the weighing of goods existed, or where taxes were levied; or, secondly, that the word was probably used to define the placed where animals were fed (Portuguese: pensado), or Penso.[3]
Peso de Régua received its foral from King Sancho I, who conferred on the locality of Godim the municipal charter.[3]
On 3 February 1837, Peso da Régua was elevated to the status of vila (English: town), which included the annexed municipality of Godim, the civil parishes of Godim, Loureiro, Fontelas, Moura Morta and Sedielos.[3]
Its important role as municipality only achieved its zenith in 1836, after the Marquess of Pombal designated the Douro, its vineyards and wine, as a quality brand for export.[3] This was helped through the creation of Companhia Geral das Vinhas do Alto Douro, in 1756, which delimited the vineyards of the Douro Valley by granite markers (Portuguese: Marcos de Feitora) to regulate the vineyards and wines produced. After this point, through commercialization and centralization, Régoa began to become the centre of the region.[3]
On 31 December 1859, due to the extinction of the municipality of Canelas, the parishes of Poiares, Covelinhas, Vilarinho de Freires and Galafura were added to the municipality.[3]
On 11 December 1933, the parish of Vinhos was created from the de-annexed region of Sedielos, resulting in a municipality of eleven parishes threaded along the Douro.[3]
Within the integration of Canelas, in 1976, the municipality grew to twelve.[3]
Peso da Régua was elevated to city on 14 August 1985.[3]
In 1988, the Office Internacional de la Vigne et du Vin recognized the municipality as the Cidade Internacional da Vinha e do Vinho (English: International City of Vine and Wine).[3]
Peso da Régua as a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) with hot, dry summers and cool to mild, wet winters. The average annual temperature is 22C during the day and 10C at night.
Administratively, the municipality is divided into 8 civil parishes (freguesias):[4]
It cannot be expressed how important Port Wine helped to catapult the fortunes of Peso da Régua:Tourist boats ply the river from this point carrying tourists through the locks of two dams to Régua. The town is also connected to Porto by train; the Douro railway line runs along the banks of the Douro. Until its closure in 2009, the narrow gauge railway of the Corgo line also served the town.