Cistern of Evora Monte

Category: Civil Architecture > Cistern

District: Évora > Estremoz > Évora Monte > Bairro Mourique

Location:

The Cistern of Évora Monte is located in the heart of the historic locality of Évora Monte, specifically in the area known as Bairro Mourique. This neighbourhood, with its narrow streets and traditional architecture, invites a tranquil exploration of the village's past. The cistern is integrated into this environment, offering a glimpse into the daily life and needs of a once-walled community, intimately connecting to the landscape and history of Estremoz.

A Look into the Past:

The Cistern of Évora Monte is a silent testament to the ingenuity and resilience of the communities that inhabited this village over the centuries. In the past, water collection and storage were crucial challenges, especially in elevated and fortified locations like Évora Monte. This underground reservoir was vital for the daily survival of its inhabitants, ensuring the supply of potable water in times of drought or siege. Its functional and unadorned structure reveals the simplicity and effectiveness of the architectural solutions of the time, focused on pure necessity.

Importance in the Village's Life:

More than a mere storage structure, the cistern represented a central point in the community life of Évora Monte. It was a shared resource, essential for agriculture, hygiene, and consumption. Its existence underscores the dependence of the populations on natural resources and how they adapted to the surrounding environment. By contemplating this ancient cistern, visitors can imagine the dynamics of a village that intrinsically depended on this resource for its development and well-being, providing a moment of reflection on local history and human ingenuity.

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