Felled Mill

Category: Civil Architecture > Moinho de água

District: Évora > Mora > Pavia > Quinta do Gião

Location

The Azenha Derrubada is situated in a serene and isolated landscape, in the area of Quinta do Gião, belonging to the locality of Pavia, in the municipality of Mora. Located on the south bank of the Ribeira de Têra, at an altitude of 138 meters, this place stands out for its rural and fluvial setting. The surrounding area is characterized by rugged terrain, marked by the presence of granites and peculiar rock formations, such as "giant's kettles" and "boulder chaos," which shape the landscape and invite close observation of the natural environment.

A Milling Legacy in Alentejo

Also known as Azenha do Sapo or Moinho de Água Derrubado, this structure is a fascinating example of a small undershot water mill, probably built between the 18th and 19th centuries. With a rectangular plan laid out parallel to the river's course, the watermill was built with robust mixed stone masonry, which reveals the construction technique of the time, alternating large blocks with smaller ones and featuring rounded corners. Inside, one can observe the two "caboucos" (mill-pits) with raised arches, where the millstones and undershot wheels would have spun, driven by the force of water guided by stone "cubos" (chutes). Curiously, unlike many other mills, the Azenha Derrubada appears to have been a construction solely focused on milling, without auxiliary structures such as adjacent houses or ovens.

Nature and Local Curiosity

The natural environment embracing Azenha Derrubada is of remarkable beauty and diversity. The flora is typical of the montado and Mediterranean vegetation, with cork oaks, holm oaks, and rockroses dominating the landscape. In terms of fauna, the stream and surrounding areas are home to various species, from mammals such as wild boar and otter, to a rich community of birds of prey and passerines. The most striking curiosity in the vicinity is the Pedra do Sapo (Toad Stone), a zoomorphic rock formation located on the opposite bank of the stream, about twenty meters from the mill. It is from this unique stone that one of the popular names for the watermill, "Azenha do Sapo," derives, adding a touch of legend and mystery to the site.

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