The social life and experiences of the lands of Valdevez are remote. Prehistoric traces can be seen archaeologically in structures built in various locations in the region, such as the megalithic center of Mezio – Mamoas and Antas; or other examples of rock art represented in the archaeological site of Gião; or even more representative of the social and economic life of those times: the Castros, common in our region, where the Celts also organized themselves defensively.
The Romans also passed through here during their imperial expansion, leaving evidence of their presence in the form of the remains of a military camp at Alto da Pedrada. The Arabs, with less influence, also left their historical mark during the Christian reconquest.
More recently, in the Middle Ages, the lands of Valdevez, Alto Minho, and Galicia were the scene of various political events and territorial interests and the origin of a new nationality, one of the oldest in the world: Portugal.
The policies of the nobility and the power of the clergy were always closely linked in conflicts of interest, particularly territorial ones. It is believed that the foundations of a castle and defensive walls were laid around the 11th century, where today stands the Paço de Giela, the landmark monument of Arcos de Valdevez, which was subsequently subject to several interventions until it reached its current state.
It is also around this time that the monastery of Ermelo is said to have been founded by the mother of our first king, Afonso Henriques, who donated the land to a Benedictine religious order. This monastery is classified as a national monument and it is here that every year, on July 11, pilgrimages and the festival of S. Bentinho de Ermelo take place, marking the municipal festival of Arcos de Valdevez in honor of its patron saint: S. Bento.
Today, the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez is a place of nature, traditions, and history, which brings us back to the historic slogan: Where Portugal was made.
Carvalha House is located very close to the mouth of the Vez River, where it meets the Lima River, and we believe that our presence will be part of the history of this place, welcoming all who visit us with hospitality.
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