Category: Archaeology > Hillfort
District: Vila Real > Boticas > Carvalhelhos > Bairro das Caldas de Carvalhelhos
The Castro de Carvalhelhos, also known as Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle), is situated in a serene rural setting, on the outskirts of the renowned Carvalhelhos thermal springs, in the village of Carvalhelhos, municipality of Boticas. It is located at the top of a natural spur, which descends abruptly over the Castro stream. This elevated position offers a tranquil environment, immersed in a landscape covered by low-lying vegetation and pine forest, ideal for a contemplative walk and the discovery of a place with a deep history.
This ancient fortified settlement is a remarkable testament to human presence in the region since Protohistory, having been subsequently occupied and influenced by Roman Antiquity. Classified as a Property of Public Interest, the Castro de Carvalhelhos reveals the life of communities that settled here, building a proto-urban cluster that served as a point of defense and residence over centuries.
The inhabitants of this 'castro' developed a complex defensive system to protect their settlement. The site is surrounded by two imposing lines of wall, some of which reach approximately 3.5 meters in thickness, and which in certain points still show the interior ramps that facilitated access to the top. On the eastern slope, there is an additional outer defense line. Also notable are the rock-cut ditches, which can be up to 7 meters deep, and areas with stones embedded in the ground, strategies that made access to the settlement extremely difficult. The entrances, one to the west and another to the northeast, overlooking the stream, were narrow and angular, reinforcing the site's security.
By traversing the interior platforms protected by the walls, it is possible to identify the remains of the ancient residential constructions. The houses, with circular and rectangular plans, suggest an organization into family units or even small "neighborhoods". Some structures reveal paved courtyards and, in at least one dwelling, a fireplace with a slab hearth and a backstone was detected. These details, along with the materials used in the constructions, such as granite and schist, offer a window into the daily life of the communities that inhabited this place and their construction techniques. Archaeological excavations at the site revealed a vast collection of artifacts, from Iron Age and Roman pottery to numismatic elements, tools, ornaments, and even 200 kg of cassiterite, indicating the importance of mining activity in the local economy of the time. Part of this archaeological collection is preserved in regional museums.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.69877,-7.732754
Coordinates DMS: 41°41'55.6"N 07°43'57.9"W
Weather Carvalhelhos
On-duty Pharmacy Carvalhelhos
