Aldeia
da Luz
Text
: Rafael Vieira
Quite
similarly to the known transfer on site of the temples of Abu Simbel
due to the construction of a dam in the Nile, Aldeia da Luz is a
village in south Portugal that was re-erected 2km from it's old
location due the filling of the reservoir of Alqueva dam in the river
Guadiana. The reservoir is one of the biggest artificial lakes in
Europe with 250 km2 in surface and 83km in length and was long
necessary to battle the droughts in the province of Alentejo, where
it stands. Aldeia da Luz is unique in the sense that the village was
reconstructed alike, keeping the urban and agrarian structure intact,
transferring only a few features like the village cemetery and a few
ornaments in the local church and giving room to a few minor
modifications and contributions by the dwellers in the choice of
materials and colours of the constructions. The village houses a
Museum that records and keeps the memory of the submerged village and
the process of reinstalling the community.
Luz
Museum : museudaluz.org.pt
Photo
credits, Museu da Luz