Category: Military Architecture > Tower
District: Braga > Cabeceiras de Basto > Santo António
The Torre de Abadim, also known as Casa do Tronco, stands in the locality of Santo António, belonging to the municipality of Cabeceiras de Basto, in the district of Braga. The building is set in a predominantly rural environment, on the outskirts of the village, and is integrated into a walled property, part of which is outlined by vine trellises that give it a traditional and picturesque setting.
This imposing 16th-century tower marks a long history, dating back to the medieval times of the Couto of Abadim. Although the current structure is predominantly from the 16th century, its foundation is linked to the couto granted by D. Afonso III in the 13th century, in 1272. Over the centuries, the Torre de Abadim was the residence of noble families and a center of local power, having been, by tradition, the seat of the House of Justice and the Prison of the couto. In the late 19th century, after a fire, the building underwent recovery works that preserved its essence.
The Torre de Abadim has a quadrangular plan and rises two stories, built of robust granite. The battlements at the top are noteworthy, and uniquely, the four zoomorphic gargoyles adorning the corners, representing a bear, a wolf, a lynx, and a snake. On the main facade, facing east, broken arch doorways are observed on both floors, with the entrance to the upper floor made through a stone staircase with two flights. Inside, the spaces are large and unique on each floor, with details such as the conversadeiras (window seats) in the windows, a niche with a depressed arch, and a fireplace that served to heat the environment.
More than a stone monument, the Torre de Abadim is surrounded by a rich popular imagination. According to an ancient legend, it was here that the assassins of Inês de Castro took shelter during their escape to Castile. Local tradition has it that, sometimes, at midnight, the ghosts of the executioners appear on the tower's balcony, walking and carrying the head of the ill-fated Queen. This narrative lends the tower an atmosphere of mystery and fascination, inviting a visit that goes beyond the merely historical.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.539652028571, -7.9934258714286
Coordinates DMS: 41°32'22.7"N 07°59'36.3"W
On-duty Pharmacy Santo António
