Cabriz Natural Castles

The three Natural Castles are located in Cabriz, a small village belonging to the parish of Sendim, on the left bank of the River Távora, where legend has it that the Christian knights D. Rausendo and D. Thedon gathered with their men to rest and train for the fights against the Moors. The almost inaccessible Natural Castles of Cabriz are three gigantic masses of rock of rare beauty that are developed on a spur, in a place where the river changes its course and surrounds the three hills. Although there is no human occupation of this space, it is known to have existed. Archaeologists insist that there may have been a small watchtower in medieval times, where a small group of people lived, whether or not they were linked to the Christian Reconquest. Access to the site is very difficult and risky, via steep and rugged ravines. Although there are no clearly visible signs of human occupation of this area, we do know that it existed. The scarcity of material traces makes it difficult to pinpoint with certainty when it took place. According to the legend associated with this site, it was here that the legendary knights D. Thedon and D. Rausendo set up their support base during their incursions against the Moors. This legend therefore refers to a medieval occupation of the site, already within the period of the Christian Reconquest, which in fact seems to us to be the most plausible hypothesis. Some traces of old masonry constructions are notorious, constructions which, given the level of ruin to which they have been consigned, could never denote buildings of great consistency. Enigmatic are a set of steps carved into the rock that lead to a tiny platform located on the first hill, without any trace of occupation on this platform. It could possibly have been a lookout point, since from there there is great visibility over the entire surrounding area, dominating a vast territory. Where this platform is located, we also found what could be related to a small lagareta. This was built in a granite block with a subtrapezoidal configuration, of small dimensions, where a small tank was built, also with the same configuration, and where a small drainage channel is visible. It is extremely difficult for us to make any kind of interpretation regarding this site. We insist on the possibility that there was a small watchtower here in medieval times, where a small group of people lived, whether or not they were linked to the Christian Reconquest, which took place with retreats and advances from north to south. This may explain the steps and the small tank, as well as the remains of the stone structures on this site. On a large granite block with a relatively flat sloping face, an abstract motif made up of sinuous lines intersecting to form a meander has been engraved by abrasion. Interpreted by the locals as a "map", it has long been known by the region's inhabitants.