Watermills and weirs from the Ave River: An inter-municipal heritage value in Portugal

From the study of the heritage constituted by a set of watermills and weirs along the Ave river, from the source to the mouth, it is intended to do a reflection based on five points: 1 - Locate and characterize geographically the Ave river, and make a brief historical background of its importance to the region; 2 - Transmitting certain factors and experiences related to the research process that emerge unexpectedly and eventually characterize the methodology; 3 - Characterize the watermills and weirs from a territorial, architectural, constructive and technological vision; 4 - Analyze a case study of safeguarding, preservation and enhancement of the molinological heritage; 5 - Provide a way for the safeguarding, preservation and enhancement of watermills and weirs, as a vehicle for inter-municipality developing.