Raposeira is a village and former civil parish in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, District of Faro, in the Algarve region, Portugal. It is said that it is named after a fox because raposa means fox in Portuguese. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Vila do Bispo e Raposeira. It has an area of 25.71 km² and 441 inhabitants (2001).
It is one of the parishes covered by the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.
Raposeira was one of the places where the 15th-century Portuguese prince Henry the Navigator set up residence during his lifetime. Henry was known to have attended mass at the isolated but spacious chapel dedicated to the cult of Our Lady of Guadalupe, believed to have been originally erected by the Templar knights in the latter part the 13th century, and one of the few Medieval structures in this region of the Algarve to have survived the 1755 earthquake intact.
There are several groups of megalithic menhirs on the way to the beach. It became a hotspot for national and international road travelers, campers and surfers, and many foreigners have made retirement settlements there. People from Germany, England and the Netherlands can be found in the area, as well as from the rest of Europe. The place is windy in summer. The wind blows mostly from two sides: cold wind blows from Monchique a nearby area popular for medronho (a very strong local alcoholic drink) but on the other side, coming from Morocco, a hot wind blows.
In the center of Raposeira, local Portuguese bars, a small cafe restaurant and a pizza restaurant can be found. The village is usually very quiet and peaceful. Bus transport to Sagres and Vila do Bispo is available from 6:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening, sometimes differing on public holidays.
Patrimony
Menhir of Aspradantes; Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe; Igreja da Raposeira (Church); Casa do Infante; Battery of Zavial
Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe
37° 05′ 01″ N; 8° 51′ 53″ W
The Hermitage of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Portuguese: Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe), also known as the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Portuguese: Capela de Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe) is located between the towns of Budens and Raposeira, in the Municipality of Vila do Bispo, Faro District, in the Algarve region of Portugal. It is particularly well known as a supposed location where the pioneer navigator Prince Henry the Navigator (1394–1460) used to pray. In addition to a chapel, there is a small museum dedicated to Prince Henry.
History
The chapel is constructed from local sandstone, which is whitewashed. It has a rectangular plan with a single nave supported by buttresses in the Romano-Gothic style. In the main chapel, there is a vault supported by eight columns with capitals adorned with branches, shells, human heads and foliage, which are among the most realistic works of this type in Portugal. Two gargoyles spout rainwater from the sacristy roof through the wall on the south side and over the vestry. Above the doorway is a small rose window. The chapel is one of the rare extant examples of medieval architecture in the Algarve, because it survived the 1755 earthquake, and it is the oldest religious building in the region. It was one of the first churches in Portugal to be dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Considering its relative remoteness, this is a large building, in which it is believed that 400 people could have attended Mass. The chapel was declared a National Monument in 1924.
Based on an architectural style that employs buttresses and presents an austere appearance, the chapel is considered by some likely to have been built by the Knights Templar during the time of King Denis in the second half of the 13th century and only dedicated later to Our Lady of Guadalupe. However, an alternative view is that it was built after the so-called miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which occurred early in the 14th century in Spain. There is evidence of construction in the 15th century because of the use of late Gothic features reminiscent of the nearby Silves Cathedral, but some commentators consider these to be the result of subsequent alterations rather than indicative of the time of original construction.
The exact connection with Prince Henry the Navigator, known in Portugal as the Infante Dom Henrique, who was the fourth child of King John I of Portugal, is unclear. Henry was instrumental in sending out the first Portuguese navigators to explore the west coast of Africa and look for a direct sea route to India and the Far East. There are many reports of his having prayed at the chapel.
Menhir of Aspradantes
37° 04′ 18″ N, 8° 51′ 52″ W
The Aspadrantes Menhir is a prehistoric monument in the parish of Vila do Bispo and Raposeira, in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, in the Algarve region, in the south of Portugal.
Description and history
The monument is located near the village of Hortas do Tabual, in the former parish of Raposeira. It is located at the top of a fold of land, around 95 m high, next to Ribeira de Vale Pocilgão, around two kilometers from the coast.
It consists of an erect menhir, subcylindrical in shape, carved in white limestone from the region. It measures about two meters high from the ground, although it was originally taller since the upper part was amputated, and is about 1.25 by 0.63 m at the two thickest axes. It is badly fractured in the mesial and distal volumes. It is part of an alignment running from Northwest to Southeast, together with three monoliths, each about one meter high. The first is located 7.25 m from the menhir, and has a flattened globular shape, with the presence of small pits on its upper surface being noteworthy. The second is located approximately 4.20 m from the first, and the third at a similar distance.
It was probably built during the Neo-Chalcolithic period.
The menhir was the subject of archaeological work in 1987, as part of the Algarve Archaeological Survey program, and in 1989, as part of the Archaeological Survey of the Protected Landscape Area of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina.
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BURGAU
37.07358° N; 8.77456° W
Burgau, located in the western region of the Algarve, under the municipality of Vila do Bispo, is a former fishing village. Now living mainly on tourism, its most notable attraction is the small beach of Praia de Burgau, surrounded by cliffs that protect it from the frequent strong wind characteristic of Barlavento. The area retains a strong local Portuguese presence, as well as international residents, largely owing to the presence of the Vale Verde International School. The peak season brings in many tourists due to the available amenities, hotels, and many small apartments that can be rented during the summer. The village has approximately 250 residents. In 2010, Burgau was voted by readers of the Lonely Planet as the "quaintest beachside village" in Europe.
Attractions
The beach Praia de Burgau enjoys clear waters because of its size and climate in the region. Around the area, people can walk in the fields belonging to the protected area and appreciate the natural landscape of Barlavento Algarvio. The peak season (June - September) attracts many tourists due to its bars and cafes, creating a family-friendly atmosphere.
