Monastery of Refojos | Cabeceiras de Basto

The Monastery of S. Miguel de Refojos is located in the heart of the village. The temple is made of a single ship and believed to be founded in 670 by the rich-man Hermígio Fafes, or according to others, by D. Gomes Soeiro, whose portrait still sees in the house which was chapter, and the following caption : "D. Gomes Soeiro founder of this monastery in 670 ". It was quite prosperous during Arab domination, even having 67 Benedictine monks at that time, until in 1403 he passed the agendary abbots.
The monastery was one of the richest in Minho, providing him most of his riches of the forums and properties he possessed in Barroso and in other zones behind-the hills. In addition to these incomes, he had the convent a great couto, both in the civil and crime. Relative to Couto There is a picture representing the abbot D. Benedict Mendes paying D. Afonso Henriques The adjustment of the account and receiving from him the letter of Mercy and in which he sees himself that the same Couto was purchased to this monarch.
The monastery was at various times college of order and in 1834 he still had an abbot, a prior, 12 monks and 25 laymen.
It was extinguished later, settled in the Municipal Paços and several public shares, and later the Republican National Guard, the Court and the College of S. Miguel de Refojos. He currently houses the Church, the Palms of the county and the externate S. Miguel de Refrocos.