Freixo de Espada à Cinta Castle, with heptagonal tower

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Bragança > Freixo de Espada à Cinta > Freixo de Espada à Cinta > Freixo de Espada à Cinta e Mazouco

Freixo de Espada à Cinta Castle, with Heptagonal Tower

The Freixo de Espada à Cinta Castle is a National Monument located in the parish of Freixo de Espada à Cinta and Mazouco, in the municipality of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, in the district of Bragança, Portugal.

History

- Foundation Legend: The origin of the town and its name are linked to legends. One of them attributes the foundation to a Spanish nobleman named Feijão, who would have lived in the 10th century and whose arms included an ash tree and a sword. Another tradition says that the name comes from a Visigoth warrior called Espadacinta, who would have taken shelter in the shade of an ash tree with his sword, frightening the enemies.

- The Medieval Castle: The town of Freixo existed since the early days of Portugal's independence and marked the border west of the Douro River. D. Afonso Henriques granted it a charter in 1152, and it is believed that the castle was built in that period. It was temporarily conquered by Leonese forces and then expanded and reinforced in different phases under the reign of D. Afonso III and D. Dinis.

- 15th and 19th Centuries: The castle underwent several works between the 15th and 19th centuries. In the 19th century, it lost its military function and part of the enclosure was used as a municipal cemetery.

Characteristics

- Gothic Style: The castle is a typical medieval construction in Gothic style and has similarities with other castles in the region, such as Alva, Mós and Urrós.

- Heptagonal Tower: The main characteristic of the castle is an irregular heptagonal tower, built in "opus vittatum". Some believe that this tower is the Keep, but this is contested by other scholars. The locals call it "Rooster Tower" or "Clock Tower". With 25 meters in height, it has three floors with vaulted arches and is accessed by a pointed arch door.

- Current State: Nowadays, the remnants of the castle include the remains of the old walls and the heptagonal tower, which are well preserved.

Additional Information

- Location: Parish of Freixo de Espada à Cinta and Mazouco, municipality of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, district of Bragança, Portugal.

- Classification: National Monument since June 23, 1910.

- Access: The heptagonal tower can be visited and offers a panoramic view of the region.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelo_de_Freixo_de_Espada_à_Cinta

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt