Legend of Buraca da Raposa
According to the legend, during the period of the French Invasions, Napoleonic troops passed through these lands, leaving behind a trail of fear and suffering among the local population.
Stories passed down from generation to generation tell that the French, driven by hunger, plundered everything that crossed their path. They assaulted women, killed livestock, and forced farmers to become their vassals, depriving them of the little they possessed.
To escape such atrocities, the people sought refuge in hard‑to‑reach places known as brutas and buracas—natural caves used as hiding places. It was in these shelters that they protected themselves from violence and tried to ensure their survival.
The cave located high in the Serra do Santo, at around 500 meters of altitude, was one such refuge. In addition to sheltering people, it was also used to hide meat from the traditional pig slaughter, one of the main food sources at the time, kept out of reach of the invaders.
According to oral tradition, all these events took place around the year 1800 and remain alive in the collective memory as the Legend of Buraca da Raposa, a symbol of resistance, fear, and the ingenuity of the people in the face of adversity.