I own a private heritage, in the city, of Leiria, that belongs to my family, since XVIII century. Since 2011, I started participating, in the EHD, open half of the house, to the community, by organizing several events, guided tours, workshops, lectures, exibitions and artistic events. Half of the house, that I knew, where I spent my holidays, with my family, untill my 12 years old, where I helped to make the wine, from the vineyards, we had in the backyard, of the house, where I enjoyed pressing the grapes, with the feet, as the tradition, at that time demaded, where I remember, to pick up the sweet cherries and plums, the beautiful lilas from the garden, with my grandmother, eating the potatos cultivated, on the backyard too. The other half of the house does not have a garden and I never went inside before 2015. I just went to the entrance with my father, because the State was going to close a ceiling that has still a painting hidden. In 2018, I participate, in The European Heritage Cultural Year 2018. My intention to participate in this initiative Story Telling is to let to know ,the heritage that I have been promoting and my willingness to recover the heritage, for touristical and cultural purposes and to give an European dimension to the project, through the contribution of an european enrichment of heritage. My ancestor Joaquim d'Oliveira , born in Lisbon, son of a judge and his wife, was an architect, engineer and colonel, at the time of the Portuguese Queen D. Maria I. By order, of the Queen D. Maria I, my ancestor was in charge ,together with a team of engineers, to supervise the works of the roads between Lisbon and Porto. The road "Royal road of Rio Maior" was one of the projects ,of that time, as well as the topographic survey of the region. Due to his work, the Queen D. Maria I, gave lands,merits and responsabilities to compensate his work in the region of Leiria. The merit has been stollen a cross with oriental topaz and a Christ relic. Though I have not found yet, the confirmation, it is an assuption that ,my ancestor Joaquim d'Oliveira had buit ,the Manor house, in Leiria, as a second residence, for his family and to enjoy, his new house ,with his family, his wife and their nine 9 children and to promote, for sure, a rich social and cultural life. When I was a child I even wrote a small poem, in reference to the queen and the manor house, showing how I was so much linked, to the house and the reference, of the Queen. The poem was stolen!! Fairy good, fairy good Fada boa, Fada boa I have an old house tenho a casa velhinha turned this little house transforma esta casinha in a house of a Queen numa cas de Rainha Leiria is a city, known by his castle, founded by the first portuguese KIng, D. Afonso Henriques, by its miracles, the legend of the miracle of the roses, from the Queen Santa Isabel de Aragão, the Our Lord of Miracles in the village of Milagres, the miracolous waters of the River LIz, by the first typography and the first book, printed in Portuguese "O Almananach Perpetuum" from Abrão Zacuto in 1496, by the Pinhal de Leiria, from the time of the KIng D. Diniz, Leiria Pines, which wood were used, in the construction of the vessels,the for the Portuguese discoveries and the beautiful countryside and valleys around the legendaries River Liz and Lena. The manor house was built, on the bank of River Liz, next to an older house, from the XVII century, , that probably was an old inn, where perh my ancestor stayed before because of his engineer works in the region, or probably a storehouse and a place for the carriages. The main buiding is from the XVIII century, built according with the architectural of the time, with sober, classic lines, of architecture, from the end of XVIII century., where an elegant tower emerges, in rocaille stone work, where we can contemplate the city of Leiria The interiors were compatible, to the taste and the decoration, of that period, the rocaille style, with wood painted ceilings and a rich decorated stucco work, dated 1781, which turned to be an unique exemple, in Portugal of late rocaille and beginning of neo-classic style at the time ,of the Lous XVI and Marie- Antoinette reign. The walls are half coated, with glazed tiles from the XVIII century. The back yard of the manor house, it was used for agriculture purposes and has still a terraced garden, with old trees, as laurels and an old Pepper tree. However, the purpose of the mansion house, as a second residence and to enjoy the portuguese countryside, has soon and drastically changed, turning to a Restless Heritage" After some years, not so many, around 8 to 10 years, the French Invasions took place in Portugal, the First French Invasions. The city of Leiria, in 1807, was already partially destroyed, with the French Invasions and the city was almost all set on fire . My ancestor was almost arrested and was forced to run away, is told, that the french troops occupied, the house and used it as a general headquarters. The house has been sacked and the french troops, tried to put fire on it, an old house made ,that was hidden, was brave and suceeded ,to stop the fire. With the help of the english army, the troops of Napoleon, lost. In March 1811, the French troops left the city of Leiria, that was severe damaged, At that time, in 1807 the Queen D. Maria I, the royal family and some noble families, run away, to Brasil, because of the French Invasions, in Portugal. The children of Joaquim d'Oliveira had again difficulty to enjoy the peacful and beautiful house in Leiria, the house probably was inhabitted by their daughters but in difficult times, the son of my ancestor, the kingdom Counselor, Olímpio Joaquim d'Oliveira though he had high responsabilities, in the Province of Estemadura,to where the city ,of Leiria belongs, had also difficulties to stay in Leiria, that again turned to be, a Restless heritage, with the disturbing times, in Portugal and the beginning of the Civil War, (1822-1834), between absolutists and liberals, between two brothers, the King D. Miguel and the king D. Pedro IV, in Portugal D. Pedro I, in Brasil. Difficult times, took place and is told that Olimpio Joaquim d'Oliveira was even hidden, in Gaia near Porto, protected by the liberals and protected by the King D. Pedro IV. The mansion house in Leiria was inherited by the daughter, of Olimpio Joaquim d'Oliveira probably the time, where the Oliveira family, had the possibility to stay longer and to live in the house of Leiria. I am looking and searching ,for written material , to know more about the life experiences, during that time but untill now I still did not found ,any documents to report that time. My grand grand father, was borned, worked and lived in Lisbon, probably the house was resting with no one inside, sometimes or was just used during weekends or during holidays. I can not prove yet, who was living there!! My grand father also, born in Lisbon, studied in Coimbra and has lived in Leiria with his family. However with the end of the Monarchical regime, in 1908, the house had again, a Restless period, with the pavement of the street and the change of the name of the street , with the Republican regime, the house facade was lowered 50cm, which unervalued the house, in a certain way. After a time, I still did not found, the documents supporting the contract, between my grandfather and the Portuguese State, rented half of the house, for their own purposes, controlling partially the house, that turned more restless even! Half of the house was used, for the fascista youth. " Mocidade Portuguesa". My family never belonged to the Fascist Youth nor did I. During that period , heritage in general was not promoted nor giving value to it, specially to owners that were not well regarded by the Fascist regime and that belong to the previous monarchy regime. The condition to be accepted was to turn fascist as well and to belong to the regime. My family was not and had problems with it , keeping a RESTLESS HERITAGE,My grand father had a tragic death inside the house. The house was difficult to maintain and restore because the rents of the shops on the ground floor, were very low, untill 2013, when the liberalization of the rents in housing and commerce took place. The other half of the house in Leiria, with the beautiful painted wood ceilings ,in Rocaille style, was unknown for me, there was a door shuted, I just remember, to hear the ball, playing ping-pong. I was not allowed to see, the ball nor even going inside. I never went inside the other half of the house, during that time, i did not knew even half of the house till 4, 5 years ago, when I participate in Heritage Day, in April 2017, with an exibition, of 7 printings representing the French kings, Louis XVI and Marie- Antoinette, during the French Revolution, before they went to guillotine. After that I continued organizing events for the EHD and the European Private Heritage Week, always free entrance. Besides the EHD, and the participation on the European Private Heritage Week, I have been promoting and selling the original tea , Nina's- Marie- Antoinette and I am very gr for the support I have been having from the French enterprise Nina's- Marie- Antoinete, their confidenc. I have been to introduce an intangible heritage in the Portuguese Market already. Half of the house was rented ,till the 25th April 1974, to the fascist youth, of the Fascism regime and after the 25 of April to a ready to wear store, with very low rents. The income of the house was low and difficult to turn profitable the heritage because was forbidden, to increase the rents, the rents were "frozen", untill tll 2013. With low incomes was difficul to help to maintain, the house and give some rest! Still today, for one shop on the ground floor, I just still receive, 50 Euros per month, when the tenant receives 500 Euros. I am waiting for 6 years to increase the rent and to change the tenant. The Justice once again is slow and it seems takes too long. Nowadays ,continue a RESTLESS HERITAGE, I have a heritage house but they took my son away , the Portuguese State, through robberies and lies, the State through a unreliable judgment considered me uncaple, to be a mother and put my son for adoption, without my consentment. I spent more that 200.00' Euros with lawyers, to have my son back. Untill now lawyers were not really a help.Part of the money ,that I inherited from my father was to restore and rebuilt the house to be able, to have more income as well , to be able to enjoy with my son, to have a house in Leiria. To give value, to revitilize, to restore, to turn it profitable and to enjoy together with my son and with people that gives importance and enjoy heritage in a RESTFUL AND ENJOYABLE WAY, not by forbidden a mother not to be with his son and forbidden my son to know his heritage and to have the right to enjoy it.

I am sorry to have given already a long description, of the story, where was supposed to be a summary of the story. I have a new computer but it does not work properly. It is being very difficult to write the story. The main purpose of the story is to show, how it is being diffuicult, because of the lack of support and confidence, through unreliable judgement, in keeping a house, in Leiria wanting to revitilize it and restore, the HERITAGE it but in acceptable, human rights conditions. At the same time I have been doing, the EHD and the European Heritage Private Week, I have to fight, with justice, in Portugal to have my son back Many times it is me, not the lawyer that has to write to institutios and to the European Court and probably to the European Comission because the situation I am. It is just spending Money in lawyer without being with my son, without having permission, to have more income ,through my house in Leiria. Though Portugal belongs to Europe, the way I have been treated, it is not, of a democratic, european regime. It looks like Europe and European values remain outside, in human rights, in mentality, in preserving heritage, specially private heritage, creating more and more difficulties. For 3 years, that I want to apply for a financing for a project of tourism, guided visits and events to promote my heritage, in Leiria. Meanwhile all the situation is becoming RESTLESS with the COVID 19.

This is story of a RESTLESS heritage and human rights. What I have been doing since I started with the EHD, in conditions that are not accepted, in human rights perspectives, because my son it is not with me and there are no reasons, for such situation, is to promote the understanding of historic, cultural and heritage values. Is to promote the diversity of cultures, of tastes and how they can be understandable, in the period they belong to. Is to motivate the confidence, the curiosity and the knowledge for what it is unknown and not the suspicion, the contempt, cultural and human arrogance . All values that Europe sustains. I have a Facebook page, ROCAILLE LEIRIA, where phtos can be seen, over the house and over the events, I have been organizing, since 2011. Because the computer the old and the new computer are not working correctly, I submit my story without photos, just with the photos of the Facebook page Rocaille Leiria. I am very sorry for it.