Beira (Portugal)

Beira (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈbɐjɾɐ]) was one of the six traditional provinces or comarcas of Portugal.

Portugal's traditional provinces

The territorial extension is different from that of the area called "The Beiras", which refers to three provinces of 1936, Beira Alta Province, Beira Baixa Province and Beira Litoral Province.

There is also a wine region, called Beira VR.

Geography

The most important cities within the borders of the traditional province are: Coimbra, Aveiro, Leiria, Viseu, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Figueira da Foz, Covilhã and Pinhel.

The main river is the Mondego; other rivers include the Vouga, Dão, Côa, Zêzere and Paiva. The largest mountain range is Serra da Estrela – Continental Portugal's highest – other ranges being the Caramulo, Marofa, Gardunha, and Bussaco.

Administrative history

After the 15th Century, the new Kingdom of Portugal was divided into six great administrative units, referred to as comarcas. Since the Middle Ages there existed the Beira Province.

1832

In 1832 this province was divided into

1936

In 1936 these were divided among three provinces, one of which contained area that was not included in Beira Province:

Beira Alta Province - "natural" regions of Beira Alta and Beira Transmontana
Beira Baixa Province
Beira Litoral Province

Sometimes collectively referred to as "the Beiras".

Some Portuguese geographers referred to the part of Trás-os-Montes that lies south of the Douro River as "Beira Transmontana", but that name was never used officially.

1976

In 1976 the provinces were abolished leaving only the 18 districts.

Beira Alta Province:
- Guarda District
- Viseu District
Beira Baixa Province:
- Coimbra District
- Castelo Branco District
Beira Litoral Province:
- Aveiro District
- Coimbra District
- North of Leiria District

1976 postal code areas divide the area in

Beira Interior
Beira Litoral (postal region)

1998

Law 19/98 which was proposed in 1998 divided the area into

Beira Litoral
Beira Interior

2011

The current Centro Region of Portugal covers roughly the same area. Oeste Subregion, part of Estremadura, is the major exception. Among its twelve subregions three contain the name "Beira":

The name also is contained in the name of many small towns and villages in the area, e.g. Moimenta da Beira, Celorico da Beira, Aguiar da Beira, Mondim da Beira etc.