Monsanto Castle

Category: Military Architecture > Castle

District: Castelo Branco > Idanha-a-Nova > Monsanto > Monsanto e Idanha-a-Velha

Location and Overview

Monsanto Castle stands majestically atop a granite hill, overlooking the village of Monsanto in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova. Its elevated position, approximately 758 meters above sea level, offers a vast panorama of the surrounding landscape. This strategic location, near the right bank of the Pônsul river, was historically fundamental in the defense of Portugal's borders.

A Fortress with History

The origin of Monsanto Castle dates back to the period of the Christian Reconquest, with its construction attributed to the Knights Templar, under the direction of Master D. Gualdim Pais, in the 12th century. Initially featuring a central keep and robust walls, its possession passed to the Order of Santiago shortly thereafter. Over the centuries, the castle underwent various transformations, notably the reconstruction and expansion works promoted by D. Dinis at the end of the 13th century. In the 17th century, during the Portuguese Restoration War, its defenses were modernized with the addition of defensive curtain walls. However, in the early 19th century, an explosion in the powder magazine caused significant damage, leading to its progressive dismantling after the extinction of the municipality of Monsanto in 1853.

Vestiges of Military Architecture

The structure of Monsanto Castle, classified as a National Monument, reveals an organic layout that adapts to the terrain. Its walls, once reinforced by several quadrangular towers and traversed by crenellated battlements, delineated two enclosures on different levels. Inside, it is still possible to observe the imposing keep, locally known as Torre da Atalaia or Torre do Pião, the cistern, and the access steps to the battlements. Also noteworthy is the presence of the Chapel of Santa Maria do Castelo and, near the entrance, the Clock Tower, or Torre de Lucano, a bell tower displaying a replica of the Silver Rooster, a symbol of Monsanto's distinction as the "Most Portuguese Village of Portugal" in 1938.

The Legend of the Heifer and the Feast of the Holy Cross

Monsanto Castle is intrinsically linked to one of the region's most significant traditions: the Feast of the Holy Cross (Festa da Santa Cruz). This celebration, held annually on May 3rd, has its roots in a popular legend. It is said that during a long siege of the castle, when its defenders were on the verge of starvation, a woman had the idea to feed a heifer with the last remaining wheat and throw it over the walls towards the besiegers. Upon seeing the heifer burst and the wheat scatter, the enemies believed the defenders still had an abundance of food, lifting the siege and retreating. The Feast of the Holy Cross symbolically revives this episode, with village women carrying white pots decorated with flowers up to the castle, from where they throw them, evoking the ingenious maneuver that saved the settlement.

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