Vilares de Vilariça
Vilares de Vilariça is a village and parish about 12 Km from the municipal seat of Alfândega da Fé, in the district of Bragança. It has an area of 14.92 km² and a population density of 8.8 inhabitants/km².
Its geographical location makes this territory fertile ground for agriculture, with emphasis on the production of olive oil, wine (part of the parish is integrated into the Douro demarcated region), chestnuts, fruit and vegetables. This village, is located in the heart of the Bio-Region of the Lakes of Sabor.
The municipality of Alfândega da Fé belongs to the Sabor Lakes Bioregion. Through analysis of the Strategic Plan for the Sustainable Development of the Lower Sabor, this geographical area as a Bio-Region aims to promote sustainable management of local resources, focusing on agro-ecological food production and consumption. Guided by the principle of sustainability, this Strategic Plan aims to improve the living conditions and social cohesion of the territory's populations in balance with the environment.
In Vilares da Vilariça there is an old housing estate, a rich heritage of civil and religious architecture, which presents truly unique characteristics and has been subject to restoration.
The dam area is a place of tourist interest, with sport fishing permitted.
The privileged landscape made up of mountains and valleys, combined with the local customs and habits, the quality of the agricultural products and the rich architectural heritage, make this rural community a territory with great potential, both as an attraction for people and investment, as well as a tourist attraction.
However, there is an ageing trend and a decrease in the resident population, both in the municipality of Alfândega da Fé and in the parish of Vilares da Vilariça. According to the 2021 Census, the population of the parish has gone from 216 people (2011) to 132 (2021).
Vilares da Vilariça, like many territories in the interior of Portugal, faces challenges such as depopulation, ageing and a lack of services and economic dynamics.
The establishment about two years ago of a non-profit association - Inteligência Local - Associação para a Regeneração, Desenvolvimento, e Governanças das Economias Locais (iLocal), has been driving a pilot strategy to transform the village into a Smart Village, and thus, help attract investment and people, focusing on different areas such as tourism, education, environment, from a social and environmental perspective, but also from a business perspective.
The project already has the support of around 60 institutional and financial partners and aims to settle around 150 new people in the area by 2030 and the plan is to transfer the Smart Village concept as well to the nearest village Culmeais.
WATCH
Video of Vilares de Vilariça
Country
Portugal
Type
not specific
Degree of urbanization
population of 132
Check out the village strategy:
Village Solutions
Journeys in the Village – Regenerative Entrepreneurship
iLocal's primary aim is to establish a collaborative, interactive, and participatory network, closely engaging with public and private organizations and the local community to implement the macro-development strategy "RegenEra Aldeia 2030 – Smart Village". This involves co-creating and activating an ecosystem based on a sociocratic governance model, facilitating knowledge capture and skill training, encouraging investment and innovation hubs, and promoting sustainability through events like the 1st Immersive Days for Sustainability and the 2nd Days in the Village – Regenerative Entrepreneurship. These events focused on developing experimental models for sustainability and regenerative entrepreneurship, fostering community collaboration, and establishing guiding pillars for future projects. Notable impacts include strengthening community collaboration, promoting local initiatives, and enhancing communication strategies for greater visibility. The process involved phases of participant selection, funding partnership search, and program development, with criteria including proximity to the village, relations with the territory, and applicability of knowledge to future projects. Through these efforts, iLocal aims to revitalize local economies, attract and retain residents, and inspire regenerative development models across the country, contributing to the #repovoarointerior movement.
Contact Information
Inteligência Local – Associação para a Regeneração, Desenvolvimento, e Governanças das Economias Locais (iLocal), comunicacao@ilocal.pt
