Cerejais

Cerejais is a freguesia ("civil parish") in the municipality of Alfândega da Fé, in continental Portugal. The population in 2011 was 202, in an area of 17.00 km².HistoryA settlement in the area of Cerejais dates back to the 9th century. The origin of its name is also remotely associated with the Ceresales, Cersares and Cersales, a zone historically known for the cultivation of cherries and cherry orchards.In 1706, from the writings of Father Carvalho da Costa, the settlement had about 70 homes. Later (1758), in the Memórias Paroquiais, the clergy in the settlement are represented by the rector of Alfândega da Fé, receiving annual 8$000 reís stipend. By 1759, the lands of Cerejais were owned by the estate of the Marquis of Távora; that year, the Marquess' lands and property were confiscated by the state, stemming from the events of the Távora affair.In 1855, until that year, the parish pertained to the municipality of Chacim, passing to Torre de Moncorvo and shortly later to Alfândega da Fé.Even with these changes, by 1926, the settlement had no less than 79 homes and 311 inhabitants.GeographyThe parish of Cerejais is situated on a plateau/bluff, with many of the homes and buildings disperesed around the Sabor River. As from 2013, the construction of Sabor dam ("Barragem do Baixo Sabor") terminated, resulting in a dramatic change in the landscape around the village, which can best be observed from the top of the Inculcas rocks ("Fragas das Inculcas"). The unusually high levels of precipitation throughout 2014 speeded up the filling up process, and a good part of the village's lands are now underwater, including the historical hamlets of Quinta Branca ("White Hamlet") and Quinta de Sao Goncalo ("St Goncalo's Hamlet"). The latter is often referred to as the "Quinta do Abreu" by the local's, in memory of one of its last inhabitants, who lived there until the late nineties. However, the association with Sao Goncalo de Amarante was evident in the ruins of an old chapel in the settlement. A statue of Sao Goncalo was taken from the chapel to Cerejais Sanctuary's buildings where it is kept until today, although not exhibited to the public.