Old Village of Monsanto

Category: Civil Architecture > Historic Centre

District: Castelo Branco > Idanha-a-Nova > Monsanto > Lagar de Junho

Location and History

, Monsanto, also known as Monsanto da Beira, is a locality situated in the province of Beira Baixa, Central region, and sub-region of Beira Interior Sul.

, In the year 1174, Monsanto was elevated to municipal seat status, which it maintained until 1853.

, The old municipality of Monsanto comprised the parishes of Aldeia de João Pires, Aldeia do Salvador, and Toulões, with a population of 2139 inhabitants in 1801.

Impressive Geography

, Monsanto is located on the slope of a large, steep landslide called the Pelourinho de Monsanto (Mons Sanctus).

, The locality emerges abruptly from the countryside, with its peak reaching 100 meters in height.

, Human presence in Monsanto dates back to the era of Dom Afonso Henriques, with archaeological vestiges indicating the presence of barbarians, Visigoths, and Arabs.

Construction of the Castle of Monsanto

, In 1165, Monsanto was donated to the King of Portugal, who ordered the construction of the Castle of Monsanto under the guidance of Gualdim Pais.

, The charter (foral) was first granted in 1174 and subsequently ratified by Dom Sancho I and Dom Afonso II.

, The castle was robustly built and served as the headquarters of the Templars in 1239.

Evolution of the Village

, Dom Sancho I and Dom Dinis played an important role in the repopulation and rebuilding of the fortress after struggles against the Kingdom of León.

, In 1510, Monsanto received its charter from Dom Manuel I, gaining village status.

, During the 17th and 18th centuries, the village withstood sieges led by notable figures such as Luis de Haro y Guzmán and the Duke of Berwick.

Disaster of 1815

, In 1815, a serious accident caused by lightning resulted in the destruction of the medieval castle of Monsanto due to the explosion of the ammunition depot.

Recognition and Title of "Most Portuguese Village"

, In 1927, Monsanto was once again elevated to village status.

, In 1938, the village won the title of "Most Portuguese Village of Portugal" and displayed the Silver Rooster, a trophy created by Abel Pereira da Silva.

, Replicas of the Silver Rooster were placed in various monuments throughout the country.

Filming Location

, Recently, Monsanto was chosen as one of the filming locations for the prequel to the "Game of Thrones" series, entitled "House of the Dragon".

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto_(Idanha-a-Nova)

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