Category: Archaeology > Fortified Settlement
District: Vila Real > Boticas > Campos > Outeiro Lesenho
Situated in the Outeiro Lesenho area, in the locality of Campos, within the municipality of Boticas, Castro de Lesenho rises prominently on a conical hill. This elevation, at approximately 1073 meters of altitude, stands out in the rural landscape, offering extensive views over the Corgo dos Lamais and the natural surroundings. Its strategic position formerly marked the border between areas, extending across a frontier zone between the municipalities of Boticas and Ribeira de Pena.
Castro de Lesenho constitutes a fascinating testament to a fortified settlement with roots in Protohistory and which maintained occupation during the Roman Period. Its defenses were remarkable, organized into three lines of wall that in some points integrated with the natural rock formations of the terrain. These walls, built with dry-stacked granite ashlar, presented an irregular polygonal masonry and could reach approximately three meters in thickness. Inside and between the defensive lines, the foundations of circular-plan residential buildings are visible, indicating the organization of the ancient inhabitants' homes.
This site is of particular interest due to the valuable archaeological collection it has revealed over time. Among the most important finds are the granite statues of Lusitanian warriors, which have become icons of the region's Castro culture. Some of these sculptures can today be admired in places such as the Ajuda Botanical Garden and the National Archaeology Museum, in Lisbon. At the foot of the castro's northern slope, it is still possible to observe granite outcrops with carved engravings, forming complex and intriguing grooves. These vestiges, along with Iron Age and Roman ceramic fragments, offer a window into the life and beliefs of ancestral communities, with even the hypothesis that the castro was the center of the Equaesi tribe.
Visiting Outeiro Lesenho offers a discovery experience in a tranquil and natural environment. The path to the hilltop, winding through low vegetation, invites a walk that culminates in a privileged perspective over the vast and serene Transmontan landscape. The elevation, which once served as a strategic defensive point, now offers a place where visitors can appreciate the untouched beauty of nature and imagine the lives of the ancient peoples who chose this spot to settle and protect themselves.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.64562349,-7.75420679
Coordinates DMS: 41°38'44.2"N 07°45'15.1"W
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