Castro da Chandeirinha

Belmonte

Castro da Chandeirinha is a settlement of the Late Bronze/Iron Age that watched over and defended the territory from the top of the Serra da Esperança. Traces of the wall are still visible at the site, as well as fragments of rough ceramics at the surface. Built in the context of the so-called "cultura castreja” (castro = pre-Roman castle), in an area that was particularly favourable for the survival of the communities, being located near the essential natural resources--water, good soils for agriculture, and abundant raw materials, such as stone and metal--, this high elevation settlement enjoyed a good command over the surrounding landscape, like many other examples of this archaeological type.