Anjos: Churches, Fojos and River Landscape

Anjos stretches down the southern slope of the Serra da Cabreira. Numerous streams flow together here to form larger watercourses, such as the Ribeira de Vilarchão. The Rio Ave also shapes the description of the area: Praia Fluvial de Anjos is one of the first river beaches downstream from the source and is part of the recreational facilities along the Rio Ave. Churches, rural buildings and the Fojos de lobo da Cabreira give the area further, very different historical points of reference.

Churches and historical points of reference

The Igreja Paroquial de Anjos dates from the 18th century and is dedicated to Santa Maria. The parish of Santa Maria dos Anjos has been documented since the 11th century. The parish’s long history and the church’s construction period thus represent distinct historical layers. The main façade is Baroque in style and is crowned with decorative finials and a cross. A bell tower with two bells is attached to the church.

The Capela de Nossa Senhora do Socorro also offers specific architectural details: its floor plan is rectangular. It is located in the village of Souto. The year 1850 and the invocation “Mater” appear to be inscribed on the main façade. Another chapel, the Capela da Sr.ª da Boa Morte, is located opposite the cemetery in Anjos.

Fojos: design and dimensions

The Fojos de lobo da Cabreira consist of three separate structures. At each one, walls converge on a pit, forming a V-shaped layout. The Fojos da Cabreira were defensive hunting traps used to catch wolves. The Fojo do Lobo de Anjos is one of the twelve tourist stops on the route through the Serra da Cabreira.

Several measurements help illustrate the shape of the Fojo Novo: its circular pit has a diameter of 6.5 metres. Its eastern and western walls are each approximately 225 metres long. The V-shaped layout opens out in a circular arc. By contrast, the dimensions and elevation of the pit are the main focus at Fojo Grande: it lies at an altitude of about 1,100 metres, is almost circular, approximately 6 metres wide and about 3.5 metres deep. The comparison shows two different descriptive emphases: at Fojo Novo, the course of the walls and the layout are central, while at Fojo Grande, the altitude, diameter and depth are also highlighted.

Rural heritage and festival dates

Rural heritage includes various types of buildings. The Aglomerado Rural de Carude comprises houses of ethnographic interest and several stone granitic canastros. The Moinhos de Fundo de Vila consist of a group of small watermills built of granite. Rural architecture and mills thus stand as distinct themes alongside the churches and hunting traps.

The festival dates also offer different points of reference in time. The festival of the Sagrado Coração de Jesus is celebrated on the weekend closest to 15 August. The festival in honour of Santa Luzia takes place every year on 13 December. For one festival, the weekend is determined by its proximity to a date; the other falls on the same calendar day each year. If you are considering Anjos as a travel destination, these historical, architectural and landscape features can help you identify the aspects of the area that interest you.

Discover more destinations: Gilmonde, Ribeirão, Vila Nova De Famalicão, Aldreu, Revelhe, Parada Do Bouro, Lago, Celorico De Basto

See the wider travel overview: Braga.