Aldeia Velha de Monsanto - Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal
Posted by: 
tmob
N 40° 02.365 W 007° 06.854
29T E 660880 N 4433835
The "most Portuguese village of Portugal" - status achieved in a famous contest of the Estado Novo in 1938
Waymark Code: WMDKPV
Location: Castelo Branco, Portugal
Date Posted: 01/27/2012
Views: 4
The "most Portuguese village of Portugal" - status achieved in a famous contest of the Estado Novo in 1938 - is located in one of the most impressive geological formations of the country: a true inselberg, its highest point, rises to a height of more 750 meters, dispersing the village on the slopes.
Early on, the impact of this granite mountain, exerted a strong fascination in human communities. In Monsanto, the presence of man is from the Paleolithic, with its peak later occupied by a hill fort.
But is in the Middle Ages that Monsanto gains a large part of its physiognomy and charm. Integrated in the Portuguese crown in the reign of King D. Afonso Henriques, the village was donated to the Templars, who built the original castle.
The following centuries were driven by a continuous attempt to encourage the settlement and the establishment of communities, more likely to settle in less steep terrains.
Throughout modern times, while the village has lost its importance and its streets were deserted, the castle held the previous prerogatives. Several armies clashed here with unvarying success for the defenders of the fortress, too high and with difficult access to be won. Monsanto was the county seat until 1853.
The village is all of it, evocative of a certain imaginary medieval countryside. Narrow streets, steep, cobbled granite, where the houses are among the huge stony blocks, featuring the core.
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