The region of Gois is located at the heart of central Portugal, in the administrative district of Coimbra, which is the closest city, 40km away. The region is divided into five parishes, or 'freguesias', each with its own parish council, or 'junta'. The region's central council, the 'câmara municipal', is located in the town of Góis.
The region has 150 villages, the majority of which can trace their history back many hundreds of years. The area is rich in archeological evidence going back more than 6000 years including several examples of petroglyphs, (pictorial designs carved into rock) left by early hunter-gatherers.
The mineral wealth of the region was probably first exploited in the Bronze Age, and there is a suggestion of gold-mining from this period. Gold also brought the Romans to the area, and there is evidence that the town of Góis goes back at least to Roman times, and possibly farther. The hills also contain tungsten, the mining of which was responsible for the increase in population between the 1900's until the 1950's - the height of production being in WWII, when the demand for tungsten carbide steel was at its highest.
The majority of the region is forested with an approximate area of 248 km2 of forest. The steep river valleys and wooded hillsides form an ideal terrain for a variety of sports and pastimes, including hill-walking, moutain-biking, canoeing and horse-riding. Spectacular vistas open up around every corner, and the area has an abundance of wildlife and birdlife, so also has much to offer the artist, photographer, and animal or bird-watcher. For the less energetic, the River Ceira carves its way through the northern half of the region, providing plenty of swimming areas, from secluded spots to beaches by cafe-bars.
263,72 km² land area; 4,861 inhabitants (2001 census)
| Historic population of the Góis region (1801 – 2004) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 1849 | 1900 | 1930 | 1960 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2004 |
| 5231 | 6332 | 11891 | 12230 | 9744 | 6434 | 5372 | 4861 | 4606 |
Alvares
Cadafaz
Colmeal
Góis
Vila Nova do Ceira
Alvares. The largest freguesia, lies at the south of the region of Góis. It has many small rivers of crystal-clear water for swimming places and fishing. The more gentle, but still hilly landscape can reveal surprises – as the road sweeps round another corner, more fantastic views open up. The south of the freguesia is bordered by the Rio Zêzere, which is dammed to provide hydroelectric power. At the north of the freguesia of Alvares is one of the oldest Neolithic sites in central Portugal, where pictures of Neolithic hunting implements were beautifully carved into the rock over 6000 years ago. Today the area is benefited by improvements in infrastructure, and has all the amenities of the town of Pampilhosa da Serra in the neighbouring region to the south-east.
Click here and explore the villages. Alvares
31 March, 2008
98,66 km² land area; 1,007 inhabitants (2001 census)
Cadafaz. The heart of the Góis region. Defined by the River Ceira, that serpents its way through a steep valley. Arbutus and chestnut woods, old olive presses and corn mills line the river. Twisting mountain roads lead into hidden valleys and picturesque villages, surrounded by a patchwork of tended terraces. In the highest villages, orange and lemon trees, olives, walnuts and grapevines are still cultivated. But even some of the most remote villages are now connected to high-speed broadband. In the south of the freguesia is one of the regions petroglyphs, symbols carved into the rock over 6,000 years ago.To find out more about this region:
Click here and explore the villages. Cadafaz
34,15 km² land area; 283 inhabitants (2001 census)
Colmeal. The most wild region. The least populated of the freguesias, but what it lacks in people, it makes up in beauty. Old mountain villages, old xisto houses being reclaimed by the natural landscape, secluded valleys, high hills, and through its heart runs the River Ceira. With the support of the EU, the road infrastructure has been improved and renewed, making this area more accessible than ever before - but not in time to stop some of the villages becoming de-populated. Of the villages that remain, many have a strong sense of community, and are very welcoming to those from outside. To find out more about this region:
Click here and explore the villages. Colmeal
36,61 km² land area; 229 inhabitants (2001 census)
Góis. The most diverse landscape. At its centre is the town of Góis, surrounded by the steep hills that brought the Romans to the area for their mineral wealth. In the north of the region the steep forested hills rise to over 850m, with dramatic views across the Góis region and the Mondego valley, dropping down to the River Ceira. In the south of the Góis freguesia, the land rises to 1205m in the Serra da Lousã, the highest peak in the Góis region. In the central area, the landmark limestone peak of Penedo de Góis towers above the town. To find out more about this region:
Click here and explore the villages. Góis
73,37 km² land area; 2,345 inhabitants (2001 census)
Vila Nova do Ceira. A more gentle landscape. Although the smallest freguesia, V.N. Ceira has more villages per km2 due to the fertile soil, the less steep hills and the broadening valley, where the Sótão meets the Ceira. As you follow the Ceira west, you come to the gorge at Senhora da Candosa, which in prehistoric times presented a rock barrier to the course of the river, creating a large lake whose sediment became the fertile soils which characterise the landscape. To find out more about this region:
Click here and explore the villages. Vila Nova do Ceira
20,93 km² land area; 997 inhabitants (2001 census)
