Bentraces: Discover Historical Paths and Local History

Historical Paths

The historic Camino Termal is part of a historic route between Braga and Ourense and is designated as a pilgrimage route. In Bentraces, various historical connections converge: the Camino Real leads downhill from Loiro to Bentraces, while the A Boutureira hiking route begins in Bentraces. Both paths refer to the village through their own route relationship—once as the destination of a descent and once as the starting point of a hiking route.

Another path runs along the bank of the Barreiro stream. Parallel to this waterside path is the irrigation channel intended for the surrounding vegetable gardens. The stream, path, channel, and gardens form a closely connected section of the landscape. The route is therefore not limited to historical names, but also extends into the agriculturally shaped surroundings of the village.

Plaza del Pomar

Plaza del Pomar lies in the centre of Bentraces’s old town. The Church of San Benito can be seen from this square, or from the centre of the old town. The square therefore combines a clearly identified view with the historic town centre. Its history also includes public events: in 2018 and 2019, fairs with craft workers and an entertainment programme were held here.

The historic fair of Bentraces had a different focus. It brought together buyers as well as livestock and wine traders. Alongside handicrafts, the trade in livestock and wine and the buyers in attendance were central to the event. Thus, the history of Plaza del Pomar includes both the fairs held in 2018 and 2019 and the older fair with its traders and buyers.

Local Architecture

The village landscape includes elevated passageways connecting houses on both sides of the paths. The passages connect the buildings above ground level rather than running at ground level along the paths. Many houses in Bentraces still have windows of this kind today. They reveal an architectural detail connected with the history of the village.

In the 1930s and 1940s, neighbours used these windows to pass goods on during raids. During these raids, they passed coffee, sugar, chocolate, flour, and goods procured in Portugal through the windows. The windows were therefore part of a specific tradition from the aforementioned decades: neighbours used the connection between the houses to pass food and other goods from one side to the other.

Pazo de Bentraces

The Pazo de Bentraces was an episcopal residence of Celanova Monastery. The building dates back to the 15th century and preserves another named detail of its architectural history in the form of its Baroque chimneys. The residence, its connection to the monastery, its dating, and its chimneys together establish the historical classification of the Pazo de Bentraces.

For the overview of the wider area: Barbadás.