DÃO-LAFÕES - Geography and history
The Dao-Lafões has an area of 3483 km2 and comprises 15 municipalities: Viseu, Aguiar da Beira, Carregai do Sal, Castro Daire, Mangualde, Mortágua, Nelas, Oliveira de Frades, Penalva do Castelo, Santa Comba Dão, São Pedro do Sul, Sátão, Tondela, Vila Nova de Paiva and Vouzela. To the north it is bounded by the Norte region, to the west by the Baixo Vouga, to the south by parts of the Baixo Mondego, the Pinhal Interior Norte and the Serra da Estrela, and to the east by part of the Beira Interior Norte and again by the Serra da Estrela. It lies midway between the Atlantic coast and the Spanish border.
In the north the region is drained by the River Paiva, a tributary of the Douro, and by the upper reaches of the Vouga. But the south of the region is in the basin of the Mondego, whose principal tributary in the region is the River Dão. There is considerable diversity of terrain, from the fairly fertile river valleys, through the extensive high plain between the Caramulo and the Estrela, where the town of Viseu lies at an altitude of 494 m, to the high mountain areas where winter temperatures fall below zero and snow can remain on the ground. The geology is mainly granite in the north and schist in the south.
Mid-way between the Atlantic coast and the Spanish border
Dão-Lafões has a privileged situation on the IPS, the main route from the coastal strip of Centro region to its most important border crossing at Vilar Formoso, originating in the Baixo Vouga. Dão-Lafões is also crossed by the IPS, which originates in the Baixo Mondego at Figueira da Foz, intersects with the IP5 in Viseu and continues northwards. Some sections of this highway are still under construction. There are goods and passenger rail services in the south of the region, served by the Beira Alta line from Figueira da Foz through to Vilar Formoso.
Another of the region's strengths is that it embraces a large part of one of Portugal's longest-standing quality wine producing regions, the Dão. This wine has a style of its own and an excellent reputation which experts consider amply merited.
But a weakness in Dão-Lafões is the high proportion of the resident population employed in agriculture, which represented 24% of employment in 1999. Agriculture is even more significant in the northern municipalities of Aguiar da Beira, Castro Daire, Penalva do Castelo, São Pedro do Sul, Sátão and Vila Nova de Paiva, a fortiori since they are not particularly suited to agriculture. Both the shares of secondary and tertiary sectors in employment are lower than for the national average.
The region thus seems divided into two sub-regions, although this is not unconnected with its considerable size as a sub-region. In the north, access is poorer, the economy heavily dependent on agriculture, and the population shows strong indicators of ageing. In the centre and south, meanwhile, road and rail connections have been built, industry plays a more dynamic role, and the land is more fertile.
A wine-growing tradition
Population density in Dão-Lafões in 2000 was 81 persons per square kilometres, close to the mean figure for Centro region. Disparities within the area are wide, peaking in Viseu with almost 160 people per km2, while municipalities such as Aguiar da Beira and Vila Nova de Paiva had rates as low as 30 people per km2. Natural population increase was negative for the area as a whole in 2000 and for every municipality except Viseu, an indication of the demographic dynamism of this town. The migration balance for the area as a whole was positive, but not in every municipality. Dão-Lafões is thus relatively young compared with other non-coastal areas of the Centro region, and the youthfulness of its population is more or less evenly distributed across the area.
The share of the primary sector in the Gross Value Added of the region (6%) is twice as much as the one observed at national level, while the secondary sector has the same share as Portugal as a whole (29%). The tertiary sector is slightly under-represented in the region (65% against 68% for the country). Dão-Lafões has excellent conditions for vines and wine-making: a rugged landscape where the hills enclose the vineyards and protect them from ocean and continental winds, the right soil and exposure, and high-quality native grape varieties. This delimited region's controlling organisation, which monitors wine quality and typicity, is located in Viseu. Co-operatives play a major role in wine production and marketing. The Dão- Lafões forest is also relatively important, with maritime pine the main species, although oak and chestnut groves are also found. As a result of disastrous forest fires, and previous poor forest management, there has been a tendency to replant pine with eucalyptus.
The region has some industry, though this is mainly apparent in the southern municipalities of Mangualde, Nelas, Santa Comba Dão and Carregai do Sal. In terms of employment, the dominant industries are textiles, timber and cork, and food, beverages and tobacco. Notably the automobile industry is present in Mangualde, and the basic metals and metal products industry in Tondela and Viseu.
For services, the region offers a balanced range for the local market, comparable to that of the coastal municipalities of the Centro region. In tourism it has around 15% of the Centro region's overnight capacity, and Viseu has amongst the largest hotel capacities of the entire Centro.
Viseu's mediaeval centre naturally contributes to the town's tourist potential. Medicinal spa waters, including some of considerable therapeutic value, have led to the development of numerous thermal establishments, although many are of only local interest. Amongst the spa towns São Pedro do Sul stands out for the therapeutic qualities of its waters and the beauty of the local countryside.
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