Rooster Tower

Category: Military Architecture > Tower

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

Location

The Rooster Tower majestically rises in the heart of the historic center of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, positioned on an elevated point that dominates the urban landscape. Access to this monument can be made on foot, walking through the narrow and picturesque streets that characterize the oldest part of the village. Its striking presence, a few kilometers from the Douro river, underscores the strategic relevance this location held over the centuries for territorial defense.

History and Uniqueness

This remarkable monument is what remains of the old castle of Freixo de Espada à Cinta, a fortress that witnessed centuries of history and conflicts. Its original construction, believed to have begun in the 14th century and promoted by King Dinis, underwent renovations over time. What is admired today as the Rooster Tower was initially an octagonal tower that, due to its imposing nature, eventually assumed the role of the castle's keep. Its current heptagonal shape, unusual in military architecture, is the result of subsequent alterations that gave it a unique identity.

Architecture and Highlights

Approximately 25 meters tall, the Rooster Tower stands out for its heptagonal plan, where each of the seven faces has distinct widths. The entrance, a broken arch slightly off-center, is located on an elevated level and is reached by a two-flight staircase. In the upper third of the tower, narrow slits open, and on one of the western faces, a coat of arms stone can be observed, displaying the village's emblem and national shields. The top is finished with a continuous balcony, resting on corbeling, and parallelepipedal merlons. On the terrace, a quadrangular bell tower stands out, crowned by a truncated pyramidal pinnacle, where a clock and an iron weathervane are found, elements that earned it the popular designation "Rooster Tower". Inside, the three hexagonal floors are connected by a spiral staircase, skillfully integrated into the thickness of the wall.

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