Castelo Branco gets its name from the prior existence of a Luso-Roman castrum or fortified settlement called Castra Leuca, on the summit of the hill of Colina da Cardosa.
Informação wikipédia
The city of Castelo Branco is made up of one parish with a population of 30,649.[1]
It is located in Castelo Branco Municipality in Castelo Branco District.
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[edit]History and landmarks
Castelo Branco gets its name from the prior existence of a Luso-Roman castrum or fortified settlement called Castra Leuca, on the summit of the hill of Colina da Cardosa. The population grew on the slopes of this hill.
Little is known of the history before 1182. There is, nevertheless, a document, from this date, mentioning the donation to the Templars of a piece of land called Vila Franca da Cardosa, by a noble Fernandes Sanches. In 1213 it received its autonomy or foral and the name Castel-Branco appears for the first time. Pope Innocent III confirmed this in 1215 giving it the name of Castelobranco.
It was around this time that the Templars built the walls and the castle.
In 1510 a new foral was conceded by Manuel I and in 1642 the town acquired the status of Vila de Castelo Branco. In 1771 Castelo Branco became a city and Pope Clement XIV created the diocese of Castelo Branco in 1881.
In 1858 a telegraph line was opened between Abrantes and Castelo Branco and in 1860 the city received its first public lighting. In 1959 it became capital of the district of the same name.
The most important monument in Castelo Branco is the Jardim do Paço Episcopal (Garden of the Episcopal Palace). It is one of the most beautiful baroque gardens in Portugal and contains statues of allegories, kings and zodiacal signs, arranged around ponds, terraces and staircases.
[edit]Economy
The city is home to Centauro a company which produces industrial coolers, refrigerators and freezers. The Portuguese subsidiary of Danone has a factory in Castelo Branco which produces Danone's dairy products for the entire Iberian Peninsula. The district of Castelo Branco is also famed for the Castelo Branco cheese.
Delphi Packard is a major factory and the principal employer, with more than 1000 workers. The Factory makes automobile component for the most important automobile constructors like Ferrari.
Commercial centers in Castelo Branco (Alegro and Fórum)
[edit]Education
Castelo Branco is home to the Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, a state-run polytechnic institute of higher education, comprising schools of agriculture, technology, management, education, art and health.
[edit]Transportation
Railways:
Castelo Branco is located at km. 93 of Beira Baixa Railway Line which runs from Entroncamento to Guarda via Abrantes, Castelo Branco, Fundão and Covilhã. Rail services are operated by CP - Comboios de Portugal (Portuguese Trains) and consist of stopping trains (Regionais) to Entroncamento and Lisbon and toCovilhã and Guarda, and fast trains (Intercidades) to Lisbon and to Covilhã. South of Castelo Branco, to Lisbon, services are operated by electric locomotives and trainsets and north, to Covilhã, trains are operated by diesel locomotives and motorcars.
[edit]Notable natives
- Amato Lusitano, a physician credited as one of the first discoverers of the circulation of the blood, was born here in 1511.
- Eugénia Lima, famous accordionist of Portugal, was born in Castelo Branco in 1926.
- João Filipe Fazendas Vaz, sports journalist well known in Spain for his analysis and knowledge of football Lusophone.
[edit]Places of interest
Hotel Rainha D. Amélia *** located in R. Santiago 15 and
Hotel Tryp Colina Do Castelo *** located in R. da Piscina
City's Park
City's Garden
Museum
Castle
