Category: Archaeology > Fortified Settlement
District: Vila Real > Chaves > Fernandinho
The Castro de Loivos, also known as Castro Muradal, is situated in a predominantly rural and isolated setting, in the locality of Fernandinho, Chaves municipality. It stands at the end of a spur, offering a wide and dominant view over the surrounding landscape, including the Ribeira de Oura. The site is integrated into an area covered by pine forest and scrubland, providing a natural and tranquil environment for visits.
This "castro" (hillfort) represents an important testament to the communal and defensive life of Protohistory in the Chaves region. It corresponds to a fortified settlement that was built and occupied during the Iron Age. Its presence atop a hill indicates the concern of ancient communities with security and territorial control, allowing us to go back in time and imagine what the daily life of its original inhabitants was like.
The Castro de Loivos is characterized by a remarkable defensive system. The settlement was protected by two lines of walls, forming an ellipsoidal outline. These walls, built with dry-laid granite blocks and with thicknesses reaching 2.5 meters in some points, could reach about 3 meters in height, encircling the highest point of the hill. In the most easily accessible area, the defense was reinforced by two ditches excavated in the rock, interspersed by an earth talus which also integrated a stretch of wall, demonstrating the ingenuity of the defensive techniques of the era.
Inside the walled enclosure, on the platforms, it is still possible to observe the remains of the habitational structures. These houses had a circular plan, a common characteristic of "castro" settlements. Although their state of conservation varies due to the action of time and nature, the presence of these foundations offers a fascinating glimpse into the way of life of the communities that settled there. Fragments of Iron Age pottery and utensils such as hand mills were found on site, indicating the daily activities that took place there.
Due to its high historical and archaeological value, the Castro de Loivos / Castro Muradal has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1984. This classification ensures its protection and recognition as an integral part of Portuguese cultural heritage, making it a site of significance for understanding the ancient history of the Trás-os-Montes region and, in particular, the municipality of Chaves.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.623215,-7.498176
Coordinates DMS: 41°37'23.6"N 07°29'53.4"W
Weather Fernandinho
On-duty Pharmacy Fernandinho
