Village Spring

Category: Civil Architecture > Spring / Fountain

District: Viana do Castelo > Valença > Valença > Fortaleza de Valença

Location

The Fonte da Vila (Village Fountain) is situated in Valença, within the context of the city's Fortress. It is specifically located in the fortification's moat, on its western side, positioned between the Lapa and São João bastions. This slightly sloped site is accessible via a postern, a passage cut into the curtain wall, which connects the interior of the stronghold to this outer area.

The complex of the fountain and its accompanying tanks is integrated into an irregular rectangular enclosure. It is protected by an imposing masonry wall which, besides demarcating the space, serves as support for the surrounding terrain. This configuration offers a distinctive environment, a historic refuge off the main routes of the fortress.

A Historical Legacy

The history of the Fonte da Vila dates back to the medieval period, with its probable construction in the late 15th century. Since its origin, this fountain has played a fundamental role in the life of the settlement, being considered the main water supply source outside the walls of Valença. Its relevance is attested by its presence in ancient records, such as the drawings of Valença castle made by Duarte D'Armas around 1506, where it already appears represented.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the fountain underwent significant reforms, probably carried out as part of the fortress's military reinforcement works. During these interventions, possibly directed by a military engineer, a front element was created, with two spouts, adorned by a cornice and the crowned national coat of arms, between volutes. These alterations underscore its continuous strategic importance in the management of the town's water resources, especially in periods of scarcity.

The Architecture of Water

The Fonte da Vila is a robust structure, built of granite masonry, with elements of ashlar of the same material. Its exterior forms a large irregular rectangular mass, perfectly adapted to the terrain's slope. The main façade, facing northwest, displays a projecting plinth and a false central panel with a moulded straight cornice, topped by a frieze supporting the coat of arms.

In the lower part of the plinth, two spouts in the shape of a fleuron discharge water into a small front tank. Laterally, on the northeast façade, a segmental arch opening reveals a rectangular tank covered by a barrel vault. It is at this point that a discreet door, with a straight lintel, gives access to steps leading to the mine, although these are currently submerged by water. The structure is complemented by a system of open channels that connect the fountain to other tanks, including an old rectangular washhouse, evidencing the complexity of its distribution system.

Service to the Community

Designed for multiple uses, the Fonte da Vila was a true center of life for the inhabitants of Valença. Its arrangement in different functional spaces demonstrates engineering attentive to the community's needs: a water collection point for human consumption, a drinking trough for animals, and, further down, a washhouse intended for laundry.

This ingenious system allowed water, after being used at the first points, to be channeled and reused in the subsequent spaces, and, most likely, directed for agricultural use, ensuring its maximum efficiency. Today, the Fonte da Vila remains as a cultural and recreational landmark, inviting a moment of pause and reflection on daily life and the engineering of past times, and its fundamental connection to water.

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