Category: Civil Architecture > Pillory
District: Viseu > Mangualde > Chãs de Tavares > Penedo da Feiticeira
The Pillory of Chãs de Tavares stands discreetly in the heart of the locality of Chãs de Tavares, integrated into the municipality of Mangualde. It is located in Largo do Pelourinho, a central space in the village where community life unfolds. Surrounded by traditional-style buildings, including old structures that once served as a courthouse and prison, the monument is set in an urban environment that preserves the memory of its historical past.
Its position in Largo de Santa Marinha, locally known as Largo do Pelourinho, allows for a peaceful observation of its details and an understanding of its importance as a reference point in the Penedo da Feiticeira area, which defines this part of the village.
The presence of a pillory in a locality like Chãs de Tavares is a testament to its ancient autonomy and importance. These monuments, which emerged in Portugal with the granting of royal charters, symbolized municipal authority and the judicial power of the community. In the case of Chãs de Tavares, its construction is linked to the concession of a new charter by D. Manuel I in 1514, a landmark that underscored the status and privileges of the then municipality.
Although Chãs de Tavares lost its municipal status in 1853, being integrated into that of Mangualde, the pillory remained. It represents a tangible link to the past, recalling the times when justice and local administration were independently exercised here.
The Pillory of Chãs de Tavares stands out for its robust structure, entirely built of granite masonry, a common material in the region. The monument's base is composed of three octagonal steps, arranged in a staggered manner with prominent edges, which give stability and imposingness to the ensemble.
From the plinth emerges a prismatic shaft, also octagonal and smooth, which rises towards an elaborate finial, known as a "cage." This cage, octagonal and open in shape, rests on a cup-shaped section. At its angles, small cylindrical column shafts, some of which were replaced in a restoration carried out in the mid-20th century, support the dome. The dome, also octagonal, culminates in a pinnacle with two staggered spheres, a common decorative element in pillories of this period. An architectural curiosity is the visible depression about one meter high on the shaft, an indication of the friction caused by the ropes or chains that were fixed there, revealing its original function as a place of punishment and public exposure.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.621985,-7.611025
Coordinates DMS: 40°37'19.1"N 07°36'39.7"W
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