The legend of Travanca, associated to the Travanca battle, goes back to the years following the Reinstitution of the Independence. During these troubled times when Spain again tried to invade Portugal, the Castilian troops prepared to attack the square in Paredes de Coura in 1662. In the evening of 9 August, the eve of S. Lourenço’s day, the Spanish army saw many lights shining on the slopes of the Cerdeira hills, in the parish of Cunha. Startled and stunned by what they believed was a very large number of Portuguese soldiers, they began to feel insecure and afraid, as during the day they had not seen a lot of movement in the area. In the following morning, because the Spanish army was so confused with it all, the Portuguese troops took advantage of this and won the battle, driving the Spanish troops out of Portuguese territory. What the Spanish had seen the night before that had alarmed them was actually the herds of cattle which, in a miracle, had their horns lighted up. The people associated this event to S. Lourenço’s protection and from then on the municipal holiday was on the 10 August.
Location: Paredes de Coura
Location: Paredes de Coura
