Category: Civil Architecture > Gallows
District: Viseu > Tabuaço > Barcos
Located in the village of Barcos, in the municipality of Tabuaço, Mata da Forca is situated in a peaceful rural setting, on a hillside. This area is characterized by a predominantly agricultural landscape, where extensive vineyards and cultivated lands stand out, surrounding it and offering a harmonious and typically Douro region view.
Its natural and isolated setting contributes to a sense of peace, making it a landscape of interest that invites observation and contact with the nature of the Douro wine region.
At the heart of Mata da Forca, there is a set of granite architectural remains that pique curiosity. The central element is a medieval lagar, a structure with a rectangular tank and holes that once served to fix the wooden mechanisms used in pressing grapes or olives.
Although local tradition suggests that these ruins might have been linked to an old gallows or even a prison and court, more recent studies by specialized technicians indicate that the structures do, in fact, correspond to a lagar. This place thus serves as a historical-cultural landmark that takes us back to the agricultural practices and way of life of the medieval era in this region.
Mata da Forca features a characteristic flora, dominated by maritime pines, oaks, and gorse, which create a robust and authentic landscape. Inside the woods, visitors can observe sections of walls built from irregular granite, some of them integrated into large rock outcrops.
These formations and walls, scattered among the various ruins found on site, silently tell the story of human interaction with this territory over the centuries. It is a space that offers an immersive experience in nature, where traces of ancestral occupation can be discovered.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.12096142,-7.59849471
Coordinates DMS: 41°07'15.5"N 07°35'54.6"W
Weather Barcos
On-duty Pharmacy Barcos
