Bom Sucesso Hill Fort

Category: Archaeology > Fortified Settlement

District: Viseu > Mangualde > Pinheiro de Tavares

Location

Situated atop Monte do Bom Sucesso, in the parish of Pinheiro de Tavares, municipality of Mangualde, this site stands at an altitude of 765 meters. Its commanding position offers wide and stunning views over the surrounding landscape, covering vast areas of Beira Alta, Beira Baixa, Alto Douro, Trás-os-Montes, and, on days of good visibility, even reaching the distant Serra de Gata in Spain. It is a predominantly rural environment, marked by large granite outcrops and low-lying vegetation, with some pine trees dotting the hillside.

Millennial Past

The Castro do Bom Sucesso is an archaeological site of remarkable historical value, classified as a National Monument since 1997. The remains found indicate continuous occupation dating back to the Bronze Age, extending through the Iron Age, the Roman period, and into the Middle Ages. This long history reveals the strategic and residential importance of the mount over millennia, having served as a fortified settlement for various communities that established themselves here.

Structures and Marks of Time

Upon exploring the site, it is possible to identify the remains of ancient defensive structures and the foundations of circular dwellings, which attest to the organization of this settlement. A section of Roman-origin paved road, approximately 50 meters long, is a testament to the Roman presence in the area, accompanied by pillars with small niches and crosses marking a Stations of the Cross path. At the summit, a geodesic marker indicates the highest point in the municipality of Mangualde. On the northeast slope stands the Hermitage of Our Lady of Good Success, a construction of simple architecture but of high symbolic value and devotion for the local community, present at this site at least since the 18th century.

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