Torre do Peão

Monsanto

The Torre do Peão, commonly written “Pião”, was an isolated watchtower, quite a distance from the Medieval castle. This location outside the walls, on a hill in front of the castle, overlooking the Chapel of S. Miguel, made it possible to cover a dead spot and provide better surveillance of the north slope. The floor plan was square and only a part of the ground floor still remains. Its ruined state makes it possible to see the original technique used in the construction of its walls – two surface walls joined by gravel, a rare situation, because the varied and extensive works block the opportunity to see the various original construction techniques used in building the fortress. The tower was intentionally destroyed at the close of the Lower Middle Ages, presumably because of the threat it posed to the castle in the event of a siege.