Canastros Heights

Category: Civil Architecture > Granary

District: Vila Real > Vila Pouca de Aguiar > Vreia de Jales

Location:

Alto dos Canastros is located in the village of Vreia de Jales, in the municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar. This site is distinguished by its elevated and isolated position to the west of the main village. The granaries rest upon a rocky outcrop, giving them a dominant position and a wide perspective over the surrounding rural landscape.

The elevation of the terrain, a striking feature of this site, has always provided a privileged setting for agricultural activities, taking advantage of natural ventilation that facilitates the drying process and the granite surfaces ideal for threshing grain.

Traditional Architecture:

At this elevated point, we find a group of granaries, structures that represent a remarkable example of the region's agricultural vernacular architecture. Built predominantly between the 19th and 20th centuries, these stone and wooden buildings are testimonies to ancestral practices.

The robustness of their granite load-bearing walls, complemented by the lightness of the wood, reveals the functionality and ingenuity of rural constructions of old. Their historical and cultural importance is recognized, having been classified as Heritage of Municipal Interest.

Rural Memory and Landscape:

The granaries of Alto dos Canastros are not merely old constructions; they tell the story of a rural economy deeply linked to corn cultivation. Their strategic location was chosen precisely to optimize the drying and threshing of this cereal, essential to local diet and economy.

Observing this site allows for direct contact with the agricultural heritage of Trás-os-Montes and an understanding of the traditional way of life. The view that opens up from the high point, combined with the presence of these unique constructions, offers an experience that blends ethnographic value with the beauty of the landscape.

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