Clock Tower

Category: Military Architecture > Tower

District: Guarda > Mêda > Mêda > Miradouro da Torre do Relógio

Location

The Clock Tower stands majestically atop Castle Hill, also known as the Clock Tower Viewpoint, in the city of Mêda. This elevated position, at an altitude of approximately 760 meters, gives it a prominent role in the urban landscape and allows for a comprehensive view over the local houses. The path to the tower is via a staircase, and at the base of the hill, there is a water fountain marking the beginning of the ascent.

From the top of this granitic hill, the gaze reaches long distances in all directions. It is possible to contemplate vast horizons, extending for dozens of kilometers, even reaching Spanish lands in the northeast, east, and southeast sectors. This natural and urban setting makes the Clock Tower a privileged observation point in the region.

A Tower with History

The site where the Clock Tower stands today is of great antiquity, with vestiges dating back to a prehistoric castro, evidencing primitive human occupation. Throughout the Middle Ages, it is believed that a simple watchtower existed here, serving to observe the surrounding territories and support the settlement. Although sometimes referred to as "Mêda Castle," the structure never would have assumed the dimensions of a complete fortified castle, remaining an isolated tower.

In the centuries that followed, the site continued to evolve. In the 17th century, a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Our Lady of the Assumption) was built, possibly using stones from the original fortified structure. It was at the end of the 19th or beginning of the 20th century that the current Clock Tower was constructed, utilizing ashlar blocks from earlier buildings, some of them medieval, thus consolidating its function as a temporal landmark for the community.

Architecture and Panorama

The Clock Tower has a quadrangular shape, built with granite masonry, a material abundant in the region that gives it a robust appearance and integrates it into the landscape. Its facades are topped by battlements, giving it the appearance of an ancient fortification. On the east-facing facade, the battlements give way to a peculiar bell gable, in a perfect arch, which stands out for its cornice crowning and two decorative elements that formerly served as supports for illumination.

On each of the tower's faces, at mid-height and just below the cornice, are the clock faces, which have dictated the rhythm of life in the city since its construction. Next to the tower, a cross and an image of Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Our Lady of the Assumption) are visible, elements that complement the viewpoint's atmosphere. The robustness of its construction and its state of preservation are remarkable, allowing visitors to appreciate a monument that has witnessed centuries of Mêda's history, while enjoying one of the region's most extensive panoramas.

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