Windmill Door

Category: Civil Architecture > Gate

District: Évora > Évora > Évora > São Mamede, Sé, São Pedro e Santo Antão

Location

The Windmill Gate is located on the Alto de São Bento, an elevation that stands out in Évora's urban landscape. This hill is integrated into the vast area of São Mamede, Sé, São Pedro, and Santo Antão, offering an observation point over the city and its surroundings.

Its position on the hillside gives it a unique setting, where the structure's presence dialogues with the natural environment and the panoramic view that extends over Évora.

A Return to Origins

This windmill underwent a restoration process aimed at returning its primary milling function. The restoration work was based on a detailed ethnotechnological study, ensuring that its reactivation respected the traditional techniques and materials that characterized its original construction.

The initiative allowed this structure, once essential, to operate again as it did in times past, recovering a piece of its history and its authentic functioning.

Testimony to the Agricultural Past

The Windmill Gate represents a tangible link to the agricultural tradition and Alentejo rural engineering. As an identifying element of Alto de São Bento, the windmill recalls the times when cereal milling was a central activity for the subsistence of local communities.

Its presence and recovered functionality underscore the historical and sociocultural value of structures that played a vital role in the lives of the people and the region's economy.

Educational and Cultural Dimension

Currently, the windmill assumes a relevance that transcends its original function, acquiring a clear pedagogical aspect. Its operation allows for the demonstration and understanding of old working methods, valuing the material heritage and knowledge transmitted over generations.

Its existence contributes to the richness of Évora's landscape and cultural legacy, offering a perspective on the evolution of techniques and the importance of preserving these memories for the future.

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