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The Chapel of Our Lady of Vale may have been built in the late 15th century or early 16th century.
The main portal and its sculpture show how medieval motifs [Romanesque and Gothic] have lingered through time.
The Chapel comprises a rectangular nave and a square chancel with wooden ceilings. This Chapel would have initially had a stone vault with crossed ogives.
This monument maintains traces of mural painting, with representations of angel musicians.
This painting, dated 1530-1540, suggests the presence of a high quality workshop, probably linked to master Arnaus.
The presence of the pulpit outside the Chapel should be understood in the scope of pilgrimage, since the large influx of devotees tended to hold open air celebrations here.
Both the porch and the pulpit are common to this type of devotional chapel.
The location of this Chapel explains the devotion to Our Lady of Vale, showing how its foundation is connected to the farming interests and religiousness of the local people.
Type: Chapel
Classification: Public Interest Building - 1950
Route: Sousa Valley
15th-16th – Original Construction of the Chapel;
16th Century – Erection of the porch;
1530-1540 – Mural painting programme;
17th Century – Altarpiece on the Epistle side;
1979/80 – Repairs in the roofing, restoration works by other entities, removal of the inner and outer coatings; cleansing of batters and joints; demolishing of the exterior staircase to the choir; demolishing of the Chapel found in the North façade and reclosing of the inner span providing access to it; placement of the altar from Gatão; removal of the pulpit and tiling;
1998 – The Chapel of Our Lady of Vale is included in the Route of the Romanesque of Vale do Sousa;
2004 – Works for the general preservation of roofing, batters and exterior spans;
2005 – Works for the general preservation of ceilings, inner pavements and electrical wiring, and preservation of mural painting, performed in the scope of the Route of the Romanesque of Vale do Sousa;
2013 – Works for the general conservation, mostly at the levels of the roofs, external walls and lighting/ventilation openings, under the scope of the Route of the Romanesque.
Lady of Vale - 8th September
By appointment
Saturday - 7 pm
Monument fully or partly accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
visitasrr@valsousa.pt
+351 255 810 706
+351 918 116 488
