Conhais

Aigra Nova
Aigra Velha
Alagoa
Albergaria
Alegria
Alvém
Bordeiro
Carcavelos
Carvalhal Miúdo
Casal Bordeiro
Carvão
Casal dos Moinhos
Casalinho de Baixo
Casalinho de Cima
Casal Loureiro
Caselhos
Cerdeira
Cerejeira
Chã e Favaqueira
Cimo de Alvém
Civado
Comareira
Conhais
Cortecega
Esporão
Folgosa
Frontão
Ladeiras
Liboreiro
Luzendas
Outeiro
Manjão
Nogueiro
Pena
Piães
Pião
Pontão do Seladinho
Ponte do Sótão
Portela
Portela de Góis
Póvoa de Cerdeira
Póvoa de Góis
Povorais
Quinta do Carvão
Regateira
Ribeira Cimeira
Ribeira Fundeira
Samoura
São Martinho
Vale Boa
Vale de Maceira
Vale Godinho
Vale Moreiro
Vale Torto
Vale Travasso

Gois

The village of Conhais is closely associated with Ponte do Sótão: they share the west side of the finest glaciated valley in the Góis region. Conhais is a little higher on the hillside, and has fine views of Peneda de Góis and Trevim, the highest point in the Góis region. The new road winds through the village in a great letter ‘S’, while the old road, that leads to the old part of Ponte do Sótão, climbs steeply. This old road was once cobbled, and is still very narrow. The houses here are built from the round glacial boulders common to this valley. Even the oldest buildings here have pieces of terracotta between the wall stones, that come from earlier buildings on the site.

Further down the valley, there are three large screes of boulders left by the glacier.
An old story tells that once, during a Spanish invasion, some soldiers were passing the village on horseback and as they saw the boulders on the hillside, one said - “Coño! So many boulders!” (‘Coño!’ being a florid Spanish swear-word) - and that is how the village supposedly got the name of Conhais. However, according to the population census of 1527, the village was recorded as a settlement of three permanent dwellings, known as 'Cunhães', (which could be translated as 'corners').
In the past, one of the villagers from Conhais worked as a shoemaker, and also had a shop in Ponte do Sótão. He kindly showed us his tools. He told us that his brothers worked as carpenters, carrying their tools on their backs to where they were needed. Many of the village’s inhabitants worked in the paper factory at Ponte do Sótão.


		You asked me to give you A sense of my village Because you Anna, have such understanding, I have shared with you my thoughts You do good work Anna, With your English friends Your work on the region of Góis on the Net Will amaze many Portuguese I told you the story Of the name of Conhais How in time of war the Spanish passed through This I heard from my forbears Conhais is my land The village so tiny Sits on the side of the mountain Where the sun shines so brightly Surrounded by mountains All around – green and lovely The river Sótão below, Sings softly as it passes Whither the youthful delight Of days gone by When all has changed so much? Bless me, Holy Mother There was no Internet Nor mobile phones nor television It was by the light of petrol lamps That we studied our lessons But times move on And bring many changes We have to follow So as not to remain in ignorance As I remember I relive I recall the times of days past When I dwelt in this village with my parents Now my heart overflows. Conhais 08/04/24 Mª Lurdes Antunes Bandeira (Translated by Patricia Mayborne)

Updated 20 June, 2008