Melgaço’s Wall

The construction of the Melgaço’s Wall dates back to the 12th century, by order of D. Afonso Henriques, to reinforce the authority of the newly created kingdom of Portugal, being classified as a National Monument.

The first reference to this fence dates from 1245, the year in which the authorities (the mayor, most likely with the support of D. Afonso III and the main monasteries in the region) decided to surround the town with a wall of “square stones” (ALMEIDA, 1987, p.178).