Dornes (Ferreira Zêzere) - unusual Templar tower in the landscape
December 30, 2011 by Castile
Categories: Municipalities , District-Santarém , More , All items , Tomar and Ferreira Zêzere , towns and villages notable
Dornes
Dornes is a small town, anchored in a spur on the lake of Castelo de Bode dam on the river Zêzere. Due to its position Dornes have an interesting impact on the landscape, in addition to this reason, two others claim their visit: the tower and its medieval Templar church.
Dornes had at least Roman times and is what remains of a village that already existed in the twelfth century, which was respectively Templars, going to the award of the Order of Christ. Manuel gave it a charter in 1513.
The medieval tower of Dornes has pentagonal plan, a unique solution in Portugal, and is built by shale (a rock of the region), limestone (mainly in the corners) and masonry girl.
The origin of the tower must be Roman, as is visible in the interior of the tower above almost intelligible (we have not seen this to be closed). Indeed as seen by the turret foundation rests on the base of another tower wider, which may possibly be Roman, but nothing in this guarantees.
The tower served as a watchtower Templar, as implied by funerary stelae deposited on the inside and is situated in the most important Templar region of Portugal and nearby is a Templar of the most important monuments of humanity, the Convent of Christ in Tomar (** ***) classified as World Heritage and Almourol Castle (***) one of the seven wonders of Portugal (popular vote). Also in the county of Ferreira Zêzere are various local currents shaping the sacralization of the territory of the order and your preferences and liturgical cult: Holy Spirit, O Lady, St. Catherine, St. Anthony, St. Sylvester, St. Peter Castro (this site should receive an order we will soon), San Miguel, Santa Maria ... Here lies near the ruins of the Tower Thief skipjack or Langalhão, related tales of giants, so closely associated Templarism (another site that deserves our attention and that not visited).
Access to the interior of the tower Dornes through a door located halfway up, evidence of its former military use, lying inside the lintel of limestone, a curious epigraphy, with two shields, a javelin and a spear ignota source.
The tower now serves as an imposing bell to the parish church next door to it, the result of adjusting the time of King Dom Manuel.
On the day of our visit, the sun was already picking up and we could not visit the church of Dornes foundation connected with Queen Isabel, probably in 1285, telling pretty for its filling and which highlights the tiles, the Iberian organ pipes, the stone images of Our Lady of Tears a Pieta) - patron of the parish and considered miraculous and has a legend associated with them ( read here ) and the beautiful sixteenth century oil figuring the "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" .
The sun declines and then depart, thinking that lucky souls are those that lie at the tip of the spur in the cemetery of Dornes finally a shiver down the spine, perhaps because ossitos fond of moisture may be eroded over pay. Leaving with reluctance so ideal haven of calm amid the storm, why not visit the church inside because the outside appearance is modest expeção the interesting gothic tombstone with a coat. We aim that this is a landscape of water and the mountains that schist debruam the Castelo de Bode are dull and without pleasure, involved in the green pine monoculture, oh and we took a coffee break or tease!
Thanks for the great work promoting my land.
I just now see a program on RTP Ferreira Zêzere and spoke of Dornes. "Journey to the Center of the Earth", so is its name. I already know the land for many years but never been there personally. You are in my plans. I know I'll love it!