On 10 November 2024, the first meeting of the socio-cultural innovation cluster of the Peneda-Gerês National Park was held in Arcos de Valdevez. The initiative was materialised through an activity of heritage education, community participation and joint construction of knowledge, held at the headquarters of the parish council of Portela-Extremo.
The cluster was developed in 2 parts:
A toponymy and orality workshop with the Extremo community. It took place within the framework of the 3rd Meeting of research, education and socialisation of the heritage of Arcos de Valdevez. ‘From the land to the land. Terraces, bread and heritage‘ (’Da terra à Terra. Socalcos, pão e património”). Part of the Portuguese team organised and dynamised this approach to the toponymy and orality of the local community, through which they gathered information about the agricultural area. This event was audio-visually documented.
Community meal around bread made in Extremo and a dance with traditional music. As part of the process of interaction with the local community, a community meal was held between researchers, teachers, students, local agents and the inhabitants of Extremo, with the aim of establishing ties of cooperation, strengthening the processes of co-construction of knowledge and finding links between the different agents working on heritage. This meal also took place at the headquarters of the parish council and included a tasting of bread made in the Extremo bakery, the last link in the bread cycle that is part of the valorisation proposed by Cultur-Monts in the Portuguese window.
During these events, the CulturMonts project and its objectives were explained, encouraging the establishment of local networks for the valorisation of local cultural heritage. It is worth highlighting the active participation of the Extremo community and the interest shown in the valorisation of the local heritage.
Previous to this event, the Portuguese team carried out an awareness-raising and community participation activity in Terras do Bouro, in the framework of the VI Technical Days of the Oak Tree, dedicated to the theme of sustainability (25-27 October 2024). The conference was organised by Agrupamento de Baldios da Serra do Gerês; Associação de Compartes de Campo do Gerês; LIPOR Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro/CITAB; AMO Portugal; Sociedade Portuguesa de Ecologia; and was attended by the local community (80 people), representatives of the Municipality of Terras de Bouro and primary and secondary school teachers.
The activity took place at the archaeological site ‘Adro Velho’/ ‘ Sagrado’, in S. João do Campo, which was explained by members of the LB2PT team (Universidade do Minho), demonstrating the advantages of the use of animal traction in sensitive areas, from a heritage and natural point of view. In addition, the participants were shown the ongoing valorisation works, especially the one related to Via XVIII and its equipment, as well as the quarries used in its construction.
