Category: Archaeology > Ensemble
District: Évora > Reguengos de Monsaraz > Telheiro > Herdade do Xarez
Situated in the vast and serene Alentejo landscape, the Megalithic Ensemble of Herdade do Xerez, also known as Cromeleque do Xarez (Xarez Cromlech), is located on Herdade do Xarez farm, in the village of Telheiro. This area is part of the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz, in the district of Évora, a region of great archaeological richness and natural beauty.
The site offers an environment of profound tranquility, framed by the open fields and clear horizon characteristic of the Alentejo. The rural surroundings and the absence of large modern constructions allow for complete immersion in the atmosphere of yesteryear, providing unobstructed views under the vast Alentejo sky.
The Cromeleque do Xarez is a remarkable testimony to the prehistoric communities that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula. This megalithic ensemble dates back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, eras when human life began to organize itself in more complex ways, developing new agricultural techniques and forms of worship.
Its construction represents a remarkable feat for the time, revealing not only the organizational capacity and collective work of ancient populations, but also a deep knowledge of natural and celestial cycles. The exact purpose of these monuments remains shrouded in mystery, but it is believed that they served ritual, ceremonial, or even astronomical functions, acting as markers for important events such as solstices and equinoxes.
The ensemble is characterized by the arrangement of menhirs, large vertical stones, forming a cromlech. Although the state of conservation may vary, the remaining structure allows a glimpse of the site's original grandeur.
The organization of the menhirs, though imperfect due to the passage of millennia, suggests a deliberate pattern, typical of these complexes. Observing the stones, many of considerable size, invites reflection on the engineering and intrinsic symbolism of their erection, an arduous task executed with rudimentary tools but with a clear vision.
Visiting the Megalithic Ensemble of Herdade do Xerez is to immerse oneself in a millennial landscape that invites introspection. The tranquility of the Alentejo, together with the presence of these ancient stones, creates a unique atmosphere where time seems to slow down. The site transports us to a distant era, connecting the present to the profound cultural and spiritual heritage of the first human civilizations in the region.
The simplicity and monumentality of the stones, in harmony with the surrounding nature, offer a singular experience, allowing the visitor to feel the connection with an ancestral history and with the immutable rhythm of the earth.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerez_Cromlech
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.45342964054231,-7.370989767247216
Coordinates DMS: 38°27'12.3"N 07°22'15.6"W
Weather Telheiro
On-duty Pharmacy Telheiro
