Grand Festivities in Honour of Our Lady of Batalha

The Grandiosas Festas em Honra da Nossa Senhora da Batalha are held in Vila Cova de Carros, in the parish of Paredes, bringing together traditions that combine Christian roots and ancient popular celebrations. In their current form, the festivities date back to 1960, from which point they established themselves as one of the defining moments of the religious and community life of this land. The celebration unfolds between the sacred and the profane, with religious ceremonies, traditional processions and popular festivities enlivened by music. It is a festival that reveals local devotion and keeps the community's cultural traditions alive, striking a balance between faith and togetherness that brings together residents and visitors.

4 SEPTEMBER - FRIDAY 21:50 CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION 22:30 PERFORMANCE BY HUGO BARROS E A SUA BANDA 00:00 FIREWORKS DISPLAY 00:15 PERFORMANCE BY DJ PAULO COSTA 5 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 08:00 DAWN CELEBRATION 08:00 DEPARTURE OF GRUPO DE BOMBOS JUVENTUDE ACADÉMICA VILA COVA DE CARROS 21:45 PERFORMANCE BY RUIZINHO DO ACORDEÃO E SUA BANDA 23:45 THUNDEROUS FIREWORKS DISPLAY 00:00 PERFORMANCE BY LEAN CRUZ COM OS SEUS MÚSICOS 6 SEPTEMBER - SUNDAY 09:00 DAWN CELEBRATION 11:15 SOLEMN EUCHARIST IN HONOUR OF Nª Srª DA BATALHA 14:00 ARRIVAL OF BANDA MUSICAL DE BALTAR 15:00 ARRIVAL OF FANFARRA DOS BOMBEIROS VOLUNTÁRIOS VILA DO CONDE 17:30 MAJESTIC PROCESSION IN HONOUR OF Nª Srª DA BATALHA 18:00 HANDOVER TO THE NEW FESTIVITIES COMMITTEE 21:30 PERFORMANCE BY HUGO BAND 00:00 CLOSING WITH FIREWORKS DISPLAY

In Vila Cova de Carros, a settlement in the parish of Paredes, in the municipality of Paredes, the Grandiosas Festas em Honra da Nossa Senhora da Batalha are celebrated. This is a land of the Vale do Sousa where time accumulates in layers, with roots stretching back more than five thousand years and a history tied to the former municipality of Aguiar de Sousa. Here, ancient stone coexists with fresh greenery, faith with festivity, and folk tradition still sets skirts spinning to the sound of the viola and cavaquinho. At the table, roast kid baked in the oven holds court, alongside sopa seca and golden regueifa bread — an honest inheritance from a people who knew how to draw the best from the land. This is a place of living traditions and genuine belonging, well worth discovering at a leisurely pace.