Castle of Aguiar da Beira

Last updated
Castle of Aguiar da Beira
Castelo de Aguiar da Beira
Guarda, Dão-Lafões, Centro in  Portugal
Aguiar da Beira.JPG
The mis-named "Clock Tower": the Castle of Aguiar da Beira and the Fonte Ameada in the central square
Coordinates 40°49′00″N7°32′43″W / 40.81657°N 7.54539°W / 40.81657; -7.54539 Coordinates: 40°49′00″N7°32′43″W / 40.81657°N 7.54539°W / 40.81657; -7.54539
TypeCastle
Site information
Owner Portuguese Republic
Operator Câmara Municipal de Aguiar da Beira, ceded on 9 October 1946
Open to
the public		Public

The Castle of Aguiar da Beira (Portuguese : Castelo de Aguiar da Beira), is a Portuguese medieval castle in civil parish of Aguiar da Beira e Coruche, in the municipality of Aguiar da Beira, in the Centro district of Guarda.

Contents

History

The site was reconstructed in the beginning of the 14th century, based on a former castro and pre-national settlement, during the reign of Kind D. Dinis. [1] It is assumed that the existing tower was part of the defensive systems, that included a watchtower and prison, that was expanded over time. [1] Of this castle, only the walls of the castle, overlooking the square and water deposit, and the keep tower. [1]

The castle was dismantled over time, and its materials reused for other purposes. [1]

In the 17th century, gargoyles were installed on the tower, also designated at the time as the Torre da Cabicanca, which related it to the legend of a stork that terrorized the inhabitants. [1]

During the Restoration Wars (in the 18th century), the castle continued to defend the territory. [1] By 1777, the clock was restored. [1]

In 1922, the property was classified along with the Pillory of Aguiar da Beira and the fountain of Aguiar da Beira. [1]

The first work to support and conserve the tower occurred in 1942, by the DGEMN Direção Geral de Edíficos e Monumentos Nacionais (Directorate General for Buildings and National Monuments). [1] This work (between 1942 and 1943) included the consolidation and repairs to the stairs, cornerstones, battlements, merlons and slabs, as well as the joints with water-resistant mortar and reinforced concrete. [1] Work on the interior occurred in 1945, with replacement of wood flooring and stairs. [1]

Architecture

The two-story vertical tower, with the lower section protruding Torre do Relogio ou Torre Ameada.jpg
The two-story vertical tower, with the lower section protruding

The tower and the remnants of the castle are situated on a hillside, in the principal square of the settlement, in an irregular configuration along the Rua da Misericórdia, Rua Direita, Rua de Baixo and Rua do Castanheiro, as well as the 17th century municipal hall. [1] Addorsed to the southeast facade of the tower, is an old Passo da Via Sacra, that includes an ample base comprising a polygonal and vertical niche decorated with a double cornice and frieze, surmounted by three pyramidal pinnacles with spheres (and the central over plinth). [1] The square is paved in granite blocks, highlighted by the Pillory of Aguiar da Beira and the Fonte Ameada. [1]

The vertical, square-shaped tower is covered in homogeneous tiles. [1] Its facades are covered in masonry in the opus isodomum style, topped with a rectangular cornice and triangular crenellations, with four, tubular gargoyles along each corner. The main facade, in the southeast, includes two registers with the lower one protruding. [1] On top of the building is a belfrey. [1] On the ground floor is a rectilinear slot in slate, and the second by two rectangular windows (one over the other), while the rear and lateral facades of the same register have no openings. [1] The right lateral facade (facing the northeast) has a full arch door, with access by a step, framed and formed by staves, protected by a wooden door. [1]

The interior includes single spaces on four floors separated by wooden floors and accessed by wooden stairs. [1] The entrance hall has a dirt floor, and the roof is covered in wood framing, that supports the roof. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Braga</span>

Castle of Braga is a historical fortification and defensive line encircling the city of Braga. While, in fact, the only remains of this structure are the various gates and towers along its perimeter, the main keep tower, located in the civil parish of São João do Souto, is the only true remnant of the medieval castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Elvas</span>

The Castle of Elvas is a medieval military fortification in Portugal, in the civil parish of Alcáçova, municipality of Elvas, part of a first line of defense in the Portuguese Alentejo, in conjunction with the military forts of Ouguela, Campo Maior, Olivença and Juromenha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Beja</span>

The Castle of Beja is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Beja, municipality of Beja, Portuguese district of Beja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Castelo Branco</span>

The Castle of Castelo Branco, is a Portuguese medieval castle in civil parish of Castelo Branco, in the municipality of the same name, in the Centro district of Castelo Branco. Known locally, as the Castelo dos Templários, the Romanesque castle was constructed under the orders of King Afonso II of Portugal in 1214.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Monsanto</span> Medieval castle located in Monsanto e Idanha-a-Velha, Portugual

The Castle of Monsanto is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Monsanto e Idanha-a-Velha, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, Portuguese district of Castelo Branco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Moreira de Rei</span>

The Castle of Moreira de Rei is a well-preserved medieval castle located in the civil parish of Moreira de Rei, in the municipality of Trancoso, Portuguese district of Guarda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Redondo</span>

The Castle of Redondo is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Redondo, in the municipality of Redondo, Portuguese Évora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Sortelha</span>

The Castle of Sortelha (Portuguese: Castelo de Sortelha is a castle in the civil parish of Sortelha in the municipality of Sabugal in the Portuguese Centro region, classified as a National Monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Folgosinho</span>

The Castle of Folgosinho, is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Folgosinho, municipality of the Gouveia in the district of Guarda in the Centre region of Portugal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Pombal</span> Medieval castle in Pombal, Portugal

The Castle of Pombal, is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Pombal, municipality of the same name in the district of Leiria in the Centre region of Portugal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Vilar Maior</span>

The Castle of Vilar Maior is a well-preserved medieval castle located in the civil parish of Aldeia da Ribeira, Vilar Maior e Badamalos, in the municipality of Sabugal, Guarda district, Portugal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pillory of Aguiar da Beira</span> Pillory in Aguiar da Beira e Coruche, Portugal

The Pillory of Aguiar da Beira is a pillory located in the civil parish of Aguiar da Beira e Coruche, in the municipality of Aguiar da Beira, Portuguese district of Guarda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Penedono</span>

The Castle of Penedono is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Penedono e Granja, in the municipality of Penedono, Portuguese district of Viseu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Óbidos</span> Medieval Castle in Portugal

The Castle of Óbidos is a well-preserved medieval castle located in the civil parish of Santa Maria, São Pedro e Sobral da Lagoa, in the municipality of Óbidos, Portuguese District of Leiria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Santo Estêvão</span>

The Castle of Santo Estêvão is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Santo Estêvão, municipality of Chaves, in the Portuguese district of Vila Real. Located in a dominant position over the village, the castle is within walking distance of the course of the river Tamega and the border with Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Castelo Bom</span>

The Castle of Castelo Bom, is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Castelo Bom, municipality of the Almeida in the district of Guarda in the Centre region of Portugal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Ródão</span>

The Castle of Ródão is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Vila Velha de Ródão, in the municipality of Vila Velha de Ródão, Portuguese Castelo Branco.

The Castle of Vila Nova de Foz Côa is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Portuguese Guarda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle of Penamacor</span>

The Castle of Penamacor is a medieval castle located in the civil parish of Penamacor, in the municipality of Penamacor, Portuguese district of Castelo Branco.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Conceição, Margarida (1992), SIPA (ed.), Castelo de Aguiar da Beira / Torre ameada em Aguiar da Beira (IPA.00005933/PT020901010002) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 26 April 2017

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.