Mythical land of Templars, Dornes, on the banks of the Zêzere river, is full of nooks, crannies and secrets to discover. It is one of the most beautiful villages in the country.
Located 10 km northeast of Ferreira do Zêzere, in a cove in the Castelo do Bode reservoir, the village of Dornes is one of the most curious in the center of Portugal, both for its unusual location, the views and the picturesque houses, as well as the legends and traditions associated with it.
Dominating the low, predominantly white houses is the medieval tower, which is thought to have been built by the Knights Templar to guard the deep Zêzere valley. The foundation of Dornes dates back to the 12th century and is linked to the appearance of a miraculous image of Nossa Senhora (Our Lady) do Pranto.
The first church in Dornes was built by Queen Saint Isabel (daughter of the king of Aragon and wife of the Portuguese king D. Dinis) at the end of the 13th century, replaced by a larger one in the 15th century. The pilgrimage of Nossa Senhora do Pranto (Our Lady of Weep) takes place on August 15th and attracts a large crowd.
A very ancient land, Dornes existed even before the foundation of Portugal, as attested by the monuments and archaeological remains that have been found there.
Already in the first dynasty some documents refer to it, being documented the presence of a monk from Dornes in the Foral de Arega, at the beginning of the 13th century.
Still in the 13th century there are references to the Dornes Templar Commendation. Later, in the 15th century, Dornes, while the Comenda Mor da Ordem de Cristo (Major Commendation of the Order of Christ) had Commander D. Gonçalo de Sousa, a very influential man from the House of Prince Henry the Navigator, who had the Church of Nossa Senhora do Pranto (Our Lady of Weeping) built there in 1453.
This place of worship gave the village, part of the importance that originated, in 1513, the attribution of the Manueline Foral (it was a royal document used in Portugal, which aimed to establish a municipality and regulate its administration, duties and privileges. The word "foral" derives from the Portuguese word "foro", which in turn comes from the Latin word "forum".
Beautiful Land from the oldest country in Europe with defined borders.
Beautiful Land from the oldest country in Europe with defined borders.
