“Did you know that Ourilhe is a place that has changed more than once over the years?” It once was a bustling village with over four hundred people living in the area, but it was eventually absorbed by the nearby towns. Now, you might see a sign pointing toward it, a whisper of a past that is still there, waiting to be discovered.
The Portuguese name Ourilhe is also sometimes written Ousilhe, a name that dates back to the late Middle Ages. The small village was once a thriving center of activity for the surrounding countryside. The parish church, Igreja Paroquial de Ourilhe, is a testament to the community that once thrived here.
But in 2013, Ourilhe was merged with two other neighboring villages to form a new larger municipality. The historical village lives on, but its boundaries are now different. On your walk through the lush green landscape, you might notice the subtle remnants of Ourilhe’s vibrant past. You are standing on the grounds that helped shape the history of this region. As you stroll through these verdant landscapes, you are walking the very paths walked by those who came before; it invites contemplation and a deep appreciation of the resilience of the human spirit.