Refoios Tower

The Refoios Tower, locally known as Torre de Refoios, stands near the village of Refóios de Lima in the Alto Minho region in Portugal.

Although there are no firm records of its original construction date, local tradition links the Refoios Tower to Afonso Ansemondes and his son Mendo Afonso. They were early noble figures closely connected to the foundation of the nearby Refoios Monastery in the early days of the Portuguese kingdom during the 12th century. It is sometimes also called Torre de Malheiros, after a family that owned it in the late 18th century.

The tower’s location, near the River Lima and the monastic complex, suggests it may have served both as a private stronghold and as a symbol of seigneurial authority, safeguarding the lands and religious assets associated with the monastery. As such, the tower is considered a typical example of a medieval, northern Portuguese, Casa Forte; a fortified noble residence that combined comfort with defensive strength.

The tower has a square plan with thick masonry walls crowned by crenellations. Its entrance door is raised above ground level, once accessible only by a removable wooden staircase.

Today, the Refoios Tower is privately owned and situated on a farm. Some of the outbuildings next to it are rented out as self-catering cottages. A beautiful tower.

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