Torre de Cambra

Tower - Iron Age, Roman Period, Modern Age e Late Middle Ages (3448)
The Torre de Cambra (Cambra, Vouzela) is located in the settlement of Cambra de Baixo (União das Freguesias de Cambra e Carvalhal de Vermilhas, Vouzela, Viseu). The Tower was built in a valley with fertile soil, in a small elevation between Rio Couto (on the south) and Rio Alfusqueiro (on the north side). There is a small chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity, in an isolated and enhanced position nearby. The Torre de Cambra can be found in the "Memorias Parochiaes de 1795" record as being an ancient tower of unknown origins. According to local tradition, it would have sheltered criminals and military alike. Judging by its position and typology, this structure would date back to the end of the 13th century, early 14th century, with a double role of tower house and watchtower, displaying the nobility strategy regarding land-owning, namely the affirmation of the ascension of secondary lineage elements and the upcoming of a new land organization associated to feudalism. The tower belonged to the "Senhores de Juro e Herdade de Trofa" (Lords of Jure and Trofa) between the 16th and 18th century and to Diogo Gomes de Lemos, commander of the Order of Christ, during the first half of the 17th century. The Torre de Cambra is built in granite, presents a squared blueprint, measuring 8m by 8.1m on the outside, with walls more than 1m thick. Facing SW, the entrance was made over an ogive-arch door that existed in the south side, which was slightly elevated over ground level. Access to the interior would have been made through a wooden stair. There is a rectangular window in the northeast façade, as well as a structure for machicolation. Inside, supports for beams are noticeable, implying the existence of two boarded floors (corresponding to the 1st and 2nd floors). The roof would be split in four and was made of half-cane tiles.

Overview

Free access. The site has information panels and a brochure in paper and digital format. More information is available in the ¿Posto de Turismo do Município de Vouzela¿ (Vouzela Tourism Centre) and in the city council website. Torre de Cambra is included on the pedestrian route ¿Rota de Percursos Pedestres: PR6 - Trilho Medieval and in the ¿Circuito das Torres (Município de Vouzela)¿. In the surroundings, there is a picnic area.

Visit conditions

Free entrance

Timetables

No restrictions.
How to get there? Best practices

Best practices

Good practices when visiting archaeological sites

To visit an archaeological site is to connect with our origins, to understand our path and evolution as a species integrated in the environment, and to respect and safeguard our heritage so that future generations can also visit and enjoy it.

Walking the paths and enjoying the structures and archaeological pieces that survived over time, fosters the understanding of what is different, but also of what is common among different populations: basically, what identifies us as Homo Sapiens.

More than just vestiges and ruins of the past, archaeological sites showcase our capacity for creative thought, adaptation, interconnection, comprehension and resilience. Without these traits we would not have been successful as cultural beings participating in an ongoing evolutionary process. These sites also allow to consider choices made in the past thus contributing for decisions in the present to be made with greater awareness and knowledge.

Archaeological sites are unique and irreplaceable. These sites are fragile resources vulnerable to changes driven by human development. The information they keep, if destroyed, can never be recovered again.

As such, the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC) invites all visitors to enjoy the beauty and authenticity of these sites, while helping to preserve them for future generations by adopting the following set of good practices:

  • Respect all signs; 
  • Do not try to access fenced areas; 
  • Do not climb, sit or walk on archaeological structures and remains; 
  • Respect areas where archaeological excavations are being carried out, not disturbing them; 
  • Do not collect materials or sediments;
  • Do not write or make graffiti on archaeological structures; 
  • Put the garbage in appropriate containers. If none exist, take the garbage with you until you find a suitable container; 
  • Leave the archaeological site as you found it; 
  • Do not drive bicycles or motor vehicles over archaeological sites; 
  • Respect and protect the plants and animals that live in the areas surrounding archaeological sites;
  • Report signs of vandalism or destruction to DGPC or Regional Directorates of Culture (DRC);
  • Share the visiting experience and the archaeological sites, as a way of raising awareness to their preservation and making them better known;
  • Do not buy archaeological materials and report to public security authorities, DGPC or DRC, if you suspect that archaeological materials may be for sale.

Further information:

AIA / ATTA (2013) – Guide to best practices for archaeological tourism. 

Raposo, J. (2016) – Código de conduta para uma visita responsável a sítios arqueológicos. In Sítios arqueológicos portugueses revisitados: 500 arqueossítios ou conjuntos em condições de fruição pública responsável. Al-madan, 2ª série, p. 20 – 77. 

DGPC contacts

Phone: +351213614200 | Email: informacaoarqueologica@dgpc.pt

 


1 Voted for this site