By the chronology of its construction and occupation, centered on the second and third quarters of the first century BC, well before the creation of the province of Lusitania, the military installation of Lomba do Canho corresponds to a phase of appropriation of the territory by the Romans.

The auriferous riches of the river Alva and Ribeira da Mata, whose exploration since ancient times are recognized by multiple testimonies in its margins, have been a factor in attracting people to this region, located in a nodal point of the road network.

Those that are known, mainly located along the road that came from Coimbra (called Aeminium by then) passing through Lomba do Canho, Quinta do Mosteiro, Lomba dos Palheiros (Vale Moleiro), Vale de Carro, Senhora da Ribeira, Coja, bordered the Rio Alva, in Coja and headed north to Bobadela and/or northeast towards Castro de S. Romão (Seia), seem to correspond to buildings related to the exploitation of gold resources in the Rio Alva.

Thus appear the first documents that prove actions carried out in order to organize the territory, building castles, occupying land, settling people.

From the XII century we know some names like the Frenchman Uzberto, Anaia Vestrariz, Randulfo Soleimás, Fernão Peres de Trava who settled in this area.

When Afonso Henriques comes to power and fights are fought with his mother Teresa, these lords lose their importance to the king, leave the court and settle in the places where they have their lands, forming there their lordships.

The Monastery of Folques, which from 1160 maintains a connection to the Canons Regular of Santa Cruz de Coimbra, plays a very important role in the social and economic development of the region, having given charter to Folques in the early thirteenth century, perhaps 1204, in addition to the charter that gave their land Fajão in 1233, Cepos in 1237 and Alvares, possibly even during the thirteenth century.

Its founder, or main driving force, was Desembargador Luís da Costa Faria, and it was João Coelho Coluna who took charge of the monastic house.

Throughout the charter however there is not a single circumstance that reveals the existence in Arganil, of magistrates themselves and without an addition, made in this diploma after issued, it would be nothing more than a simple civil contract.

Besides the fixed commerce, then relatively unimportant, it should be mentioned the fair of Mon'talto, which took place between 6 and 8 September each year, and attracted traders from various parts of the country, particularly from Beira Alta and Alentejo.

In 1902, three days before the fair started, 122 stalls had been rented for white and woolen fabrics, 23 for hat makers, 10 for fine hardware, 7 for watchmakers, 18 for goldsmiths, 20 for raw linen, 6 for boilermakers, 7 for tinsmiths, 12 for shoemakers, 50 for haberdashery, 20 for cordage, 18 for heavy ironmongery, 9 for fine ware, 30 for saragças (thick woolen cloths), and 50 botequins.