Fatima Mills

Category: Civil Architecture > Mills

District: Santarém > Ourém > Fátima

Location

The Windmills of Fátima are located at an elevated point in the town of Fátima, in the municipality of Ourém, in an area known as Cabeço da Fazarga. From this spot, one can enjoy a wide and unobstructed view of the surrounding landscape, which gives them a prominent presence in the area. Their position, midway between the North Roundabout and the access to the IC9, facilitates their identification in the urban surroundings.

The Ensemble and its Architecture

At this elevated point in Fátima, one can observe a picturesque alignment of five windmills. These structures feature a circular base and a conical roof, common characteristics in the Estremadura region. Four of these windmills are built with traditional masonry, plastered and whitewashed, while one stands out due to its unusual wooden construction, giving it a noteworthy architectural particularity.

Testimony to the Rural Past

The Windmills of Fátima are a valuable testimony to the importance of cereal production and the art of milling in the sustenance and life of local communities. They represent how wind power was harnessed to transform grain into flour, at a time when this was an essential activity for subsistence. One of the windmills, currently under the responsibility of the Municipality and integrated into the Municipal Museum, offers a more in-depth perspective on the milling cycle and the experiences of the millers, sharing the life story of Adelina and Adriano, a couple who dedicated their lives to this art.

Setting and Contemplation

The surroundings of the Fátima Windmills invite tranquility and contemplation. Their privileged location offers a panoramic setting over the horizon, ideal for moments of pause and for observing the landscape. The image of the windmills, with their characteristic silhouettes, evokes memories of bygone eras and allows one to imagine the daily life of yesteryear, where the rhythm of life was dictated by nature and agricultural work.

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