About Paul
Discover the history, geography and identity of the village of Paul, on the southern slope of Serra da Estrela.
History
The first known reference to Paul dates back to 1615. Historical documents describe Paul as "a royal priory", exempt from most taxes. The village's name derives from the marshy areas ("pauis") that existed nearby.
The ancient heritage suggests the presence of Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs, evidenced by introduced species such as olive trees and vineyards. In 1989, Paul was elevated to village status by Law 55/89.
Geography
Paul is located on the southern slope of Serra da Estrela, on the left bank of Ribeira do Caia, a tributary of the Zêzere river. The parish covers an area of 23.99 km² and comprises two settlements: Paul and Taliscas.
It is 24 km from the city of Covilhã. The climate is classified as Csa (Köppen-Geiger), with average temperatures ranging from 11°C in January to 30°C in July-August. Annual rainfall is around 1,025 mm, concentrated in the winter months.
Paul belongs to the municipality of Covilhã, district of Castelo Branco.