Royal Ice Factory - Freezing Tanks

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Lisboa > Cadaval > Arieiro > Lamas e Cercal

Location:

This location is situated in the landscape of the Serra de Montejunto, an elevation that stands out in the municipality of Cadaval. More precisely, the tanks are located in the Lamas and Cercal area, in the locality of Arieiro. The natural surroundings of the mountain range, with its particular climate, were crucial for the choice of this point and offer a tranquil environment for the visit, helping to understand the factory's original purpose.

An 18th-Century Legacy:

The freezing tanks are an integral part of the Royal Ice Factory, a remarkable structure dating back to the 18th century. This factory represents a testament to the ingenuity of the era, when ice was a valuable resource, essential for food preservation, medicinal applications, and cooling beverages. Its presence in the Serra de Montejunto highlights the search for specific climatic conditions, indispensable for the production and storage of ice.

Design and Functioning:

These tanks were the operational heart of the Royal Ice Factory. Their construction, often in robust stone, was designed to optimize water collection and maintenance. Taking advantage of the low temperatures of the mountain winter, the water would naturally freeze in these reservoirs. This method, innovative for its time, allowed the factory to produce and store large quantities of ice, which were then transported to various points, including the capital, Lisbon. The size and organization of the tanks reveal the scale and importance of this production for the daily needs of that era.

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