The Tower of Homage, symbol of the powerful Castle of San Vicente

11/30/2018 Monforte, Montis Forte, was born at the foot of the medieval fortress of the 12th century, built over the Castro Dactonio, where the 10th-century monastery of San Vicente do Pino was located. We are now one of the largest Galician fortresses in which the Tower of Homage remembers the time when the city was an icon of the feudal power of the Middle Ages. The Tower of Homage is still standing in memory and as a symbol of the powerful castle of San Vicente, belonging to the Counts of Lemos.

We are facing one of the most characteristic architectural elements of the city of Cabe. Built between the XIII and XV centuries, it was the most important building inside the castle, it hosted the Ceremonies of Homage, a ritual that united the Lord with his vassal. The tower is 30 meters high arranged on four floors, 13 meters on the side and 3 meters thick walls.

The Tower seen from its foot, impresses, and from the battlements offers an excellent viewpoint of the Valley of Lemos. Access to it by stairs that introduce the visitor into the medieval environment, so the entrance door rises 8 m from ground level to facilitate the defense. The interior is musealized and has armor, furniture, objects and drawings and models that recall the time of its splendor. On the first floor a cistern was built to store rainwater, on the third floor is the Ventana de la Reina, which seems to ask the visitor to have a rest on the climb and sit among the stone to travel on the weather. The constant climb has its main reward in the upper crenellated part that offers spectacular views of the city and its surroundings.

The Tower of Homage has an excellent state of conservation despite suffering significant damage during the irmandiñas revolts of the fifteenth century and being a victim in 1672 of a fire.

 

The visit to the Tower has an entrance fee of € 1.5. The visit schedule in winter is as follows:

From Tuesday to Friday: Groups and guided visits by appointment at the Tourist Office. Telephone 982 404 715

Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays: from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Get to know the Monforte monuments in the KNOW section in this website.