Cartaxo

Template:Geobox Cartaxo (Portuguese pronunciation: [kɐɾˈtaʃu]) is a municipality in continental Portugal, with a total area of 158.2 square kilometres (61.1 sq mi) and a total population of 24,465 inhabitants. The urbanized centre of Cartaxo includes a population of over 9,507 inhabitants.

History

The religious procession during the festival of Nossa Senhora da Graça

In the written and oral history, the territory of Cartaxo was an important landscape in the interior passage of the country. A Roman via connected the ancient Olissipo (Lisbon), crossing Alenquer (Lerabriga) to Santarém (Scallabis), through the territory of Cartaxo. Yet, before the Romans, other civilizations settled in the region, establishing castros in Vila Nova de São Pedro, Vale do Tejo or in the areas of Muge.

Situated in the plains of the Ribatejo, Cartaxo was a battleground between Muslim and the Christians. Due to its proximity of Santarém, it was one of the centres that were disputed between Muslim and Christian forces for years, resulting in the destruction of Cartaxo. Yet, King Sancho II of Portugal found that it was necessary to repopulate the area, since it was located in a privileged position with fertile lands. He, therefore, assigned the land of Cartaxinho (today Ribeira do Cartaxo) to Pedro Pacheco, who was responsible for constructing a shelter for the poor: yet, Pedro Pacheco nor his descendants would accomplish the task.

Oral tradition suggests that the name Cartaxo was given to the lands by Queen Elizabeth of Aragon who, on a voyage to the Monastery of Almoster, stopped to rest and quench their thirst. Alongside a spring, she was surprised by the beautiful song a bird, that she was unfamiliar. Asking one of the peasants about the songbird, the serf responded that the song came from a bird called a cartaxos or cartaxinhos. Enchanted by the place, the Queen ordained that the land, then called Lugar da Fonte began to receive the name Lugar do Cartaxo. It is unclear whether there is any truth to this story.

In 1312, Cartaxo received its first foral (charter) signed in Leiria, by King Denis of Portugal, confirmed in 1487, by King John II (in Santarém) and in 1496, by Manuel (also in Santarém). The first foral, issued by Denis on 21 March 1312, was sent to his vassel, Garcia Martins, originating the foundation of the locality of Cartaixo. In this act, Denis exempted the region from taxes for those who grew and cultivated grapes during the first five years of their tenure. Settlers who accepted these land rights were required to trade their concession with an annual submission of an eighth of their produce in wine and linen.

The historical importance of the municipality is supported by events of the Battle of Ourique, which were probably linked to Vila Chã de Ourique (1139), a concession of foral to Pontével, by King Sancho (1194) and the existence of the Royal Palaces of Valada (1361-1365).

In the middle of the 19th century, Cartaxo was one of the more populated areas of Estremadura, in the Comarca of Santarém, with just over 200 inhabitants. Following the death of King John, his testament conceded several honors to his daughter (in 1656). On 10 December 1815, by regal decree from Rio de Janeiro, King John VI conceded its administrative independence, which was followed-up on 21 June 1995 with the elevation of Cartaxo to the status of city.

At the end of the 19th century, owing to the growth of technological innovations, Cartaxo turned the center of wine production, typical of the Vale do Tejo, with many of their wine production exported by ship to Lisbon.

Geography

The scenic landscape of the Tagus valley near the town of Cartaxo

The historical municipal market, still an integral part of the municipality

Physical geography

Cartaxo is located 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Lisbon (its airport is the primary international gateway), and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the district capital, Santarém, served by many roadways and rail-lines. Direct access by the A1 motorway, its variant the Estrada Nacional E.N. 365-2, to the intersection of the A1 at Aveiras de Cima, also the E.N.3, that crosses the municipality, connecting the area between Carregado and Santarém.

The fields, town and flat-lands, with the river at their feet, make Cartaxo a rich landscape. The municipality is marked by agricultural fields, primarily vineyards, that occupy a large portion of the land. Vine cultivation and wine production has always been linked to the municipality, earning it the title Wine Capital of the Ribatejo.

Human geography

Situated in the heart of the Ribatejo, the municipality of Cartaxo occupies an area of approximately 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi), comprised from the civil parishes of Cartaxo, Ereira, Lapa, Pontével, Valada, Vale da Pedra, Vale da Pinta and Vila Chã de Ourique.

The municipality is composed of eight parishes, and located in the district of Santarém.

• Cartaxo
• Ereira
• Lapa
• Pontével
• Valada
• Vale da Pedra
• Vale da Pinta
• Vila Chã de Ourique

The municipality is served by the Linha Ferroviária do Norte, with the station at Setil, the most important: it is part of the national rail network connection between the north and south. The rail stations in Santana and Reguengo are also points of departure and ingress to Cartaxo, permitting a level of regional mobility.

Twin towns — Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Portugal

Cartaxo is twinned with:

• Słupsk, Poland.

Architecture

Civic

• Assembly House of Cartaxo (Template:Lang-pt)
• Bandstand of Cartaxo (Template:Lang-pt)
• Bandstand of Pontével (Template:Lang-pt)
• Caratxo Market (Template:Lang-pt)
• Casa do Povo de Pontével (Template:Lang-pt)
• Commemorative Pillory of Pontével (Template:Lang-pt)
• Fountain of Concha (Template:Lang-pt)
• Hospital of the Misericórdia of Cartaxo (Template:Lang-pt)
• Lime Kiln of São Gens (Template:Lang-pt)
• Medieval Bridge of Pontével (Template:Lang-pt)
• Municipal Culture Centre of Cartaxo (Template:Lang-pt)
• Palace of Chavões (Template:Lang-pt), sold at the end of the 14th century, the estate of Chavões was left in the will of Lourenço Gonçalves to the Church of Santo Estevão, in Santarém; since the middle of the 15th century it passed hands between various proprietors. By the beginning of the 17th century, it was purchased by Rui Telles de Menezes, Count of Unhão who constructed the "U-Shaped", classic Mannerist Palace, similar to the Palácio da Quinta das Torres, in Setúbal;
• Pontével Market (Template:Lang-pt)
• Residence of the Countess of Pontével (Template:Lang-pt)
• Residence of the Camelo Family (Template:Lang-pt)
• Residence of Dr. Egas de Azevedo (Template:Lang-pt)
• Seniors Home of São João (Template:Lang-pt)
• Well of São Bartolomeu (Template:Lang-pt)

Religious

• Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Desterro (Template:Lang-pt)
• Chapel of Santo Cristo (Template:Lang-pt)
• Chapel of Senhor dos Passos (Template:Lang-pt)
• Church of Nossa Senhora da Expectação (Template:Lang-pt)
• Church of Nossa Senhora da Purificação (Template:Lang-pt)
• Church of São Bartolomeu (Template:Lang-pt)
• Church of São João Baptista (Template:Lang-pt)
• Church of the Espírito Santo (Template:Lang-pt)
• Cross of Cartaxo (Template:Lang-pt)

Notable citizens

• Marco Chagas (Pontével, 19 November 1956 - ), professional cyclist, four time winner of the Volta a Portugal in 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986;
• Qwentin, formed in 2003, is a rock band consisting of Drepopoulos Qwentinsson (bass guitar), Gospodar Qwentinsson (guitar, vocals), Morloch Qwentinsson (samples, keyboards), Qweon Qwentinsson (guitar, vocals) and Bárány Qwentinsson (drums);

See also

• Cartaxo IPR