Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Viseu > Carregal do Sal > Azenha
Situated in the locality of Azenha, in the municipality of Carregal do Sal, and integrated into the parish of Oliveira do Conde, the Orca Shelter is set in a landscape of great natural beauty. Located on the northern slope of the Mondego river, in a predominantly granitic area, it offers a vast panorama of its surroundings, with several watercourses meandering towards this important river.
The Orca Shelter is a remarkable rock shelter, naturally shaped into the landscape, presenting a distinctive semi-circular configuration. This site has been a place of human presence for millennia. Although traditionally associated with use by shepherds, who sought refuge here for centuries, its proximity to other archaeological remains in the region suggests an even more remote use, possibly by prehistoric communities.
Discoveries in the surrounding area, such as fragments of pottery and flint tools, reinforce the idea of its importance to the peoples who inhabited these lands in very ancient times, making it a point of interest for understanding the region's past.
Upon visiting the Orca Shelter, it is possible to observe the vestiges of its adaptation and use by humans. In its frontal part, the remains of a protective stone structure, composed of pseudo-orthostats, can still be glimpsed, which in other times defended the interior of the shelter.
On the floor, there is a paving made with small-caliber stones, a testament to the organization of the space. On the south side, a combustion structure is also visible, indicating food preparation or the use of fire for heating, elements that directly connect us to the experiences of those who took shelter here.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.444343,-7.9354405
Coordinates DMS: 40°26'39.6"N 07°56'7.6"W
Weather Azenha
On-duty Pharmacy Azenha
