Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain
District: Castelo Branco > Fundão > Aldeia de Joanes
The two fountains are located in Aldeia de Joanes, a parish in the municipality of Fundão, and are part of the traditional heritage of the locality. The Fonte da Rua da Fonte is situated on a small cobblestone street, flanked by old houses, in a narrow but picturesque setting that evokes the rurality of the place. Fonte Figueiredo, in turn, is located in a more open and verdant area, surrounded by vegetation and stone walls, in a more natural and tranquil environment.
Both are accessible by pedestrian paths and are part of routes that cross the old core of the village. The location of these fountains highlights the importance they had in the daily lives of local populations, not only as water supply points but also as spaces for community gathering.
The Fonte da Rua da Fonte is a granite structure with an engraved date of 1620. With a square plan and access lowered by steps, it features a perfect arch and a vaulted interior. The tank is located below street level, protecting the water from direct sun exposure and keeping it cool throughout the year. The ensemble is crowned by stone elements protruding from the upper part, suggesting an aesthetic concern, even in a utilitarian structure.
Fonte Figueiredo, on the other hand, presents a similar model, with a tank dug into the ground and covered by a simple and solid stone structure. Access is also downward, and the space is delimited by rustic walls. The surroundings, with trees and spontaneous vegetation, create a serene atmosphere that reinforces the environmental value of the fountain. Its construction follows the same functional principles, typical of the plunge fountains in the region.
These fountains represent more than simple hydraulic structures. They were supply points, but also places for socializing and sharing among neighbours, especially in times when piped water was not yet available. Their preservation reflects respect for local history and the ingenuity of the populations who built and maintained them over the centuries.
Today, they remain as living testaments to a communal way of life, strongly linked to the territory and to water as a vital resource. Their value lies both in their functionality and in their ability to evoke past times, where the simplicity of solutions was combined with the solidity and durability of the constructions.
The plunge fountains of Aldeia de Joanes maintain a strong identity. The Fonte da Rua da Fonte, located on a narrow street with visible details of daily use, reveals its functional integration into a rural urban context. Fonte Figueiredo, surrounded by vegetation and moss-covered stones, conveys a sense of silence and continuity with the surrounding natural environment.
Both contribute to the historical interpretation of the village's landscape and are significant elements along the route for those seeking to learn about the popular architecture and ancient customs of the Cova da Beira region.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.136707801851365,-7.51681053516609
Coordinates DMS: 40°08'12.1"N 07°31'0.5"W
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