Xistopedia

Peace Tower

Peace Tower
heritage
The Piece Tower is a Building of Municipal Interest.

It began life under the name “Salazar Tower”. After 25 April 1974 it changed its name to “Peace Tower”. In the village, however, until its restoration in 2002, it was simply called the “Clock Tower”. It now has a certain uniqueness because towers promoting peace must surely be rare in this world. Classified as a Building of Municipal Interest, is built on a square plan three metres by three metres and is 11 metres high. In its upper part two openings house its two bells. The dome is granite.

 

THE BELL OF PEACE

The so-called “Bell of Peace” bears the following inscription “DR. MÁRIO MATHIAS ORDERED THIS TO BE MADE IN 1945”. It was cast in Almada by the firm “Manoel F. Couzinha”. It weighs 6 kg and was hung in the Peace Tower in April 1945. Their purpose was engraved on it in the following inscription: “THIS BELL RANG FOR THE FIRST TIME TO ANNOUNCE THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE IN 1945”.

 

THE CLOCK

The clock is, as a whole, an extraordinary piece of machinery. Several parts of the mechanism bear phrases that eulogise Peace. On one is engraved “LET US BLESS PEACE”. And on another “PEACE BE WITH US”. Constructed by Manuel Francisco Cousinha, a native of Pomares – the next-door parish to Benfeita – a famous clockmaker of the period and owner of the firm “A BOA CONSTRUTORA”, located in Almada.

 

THE PEOPLE OF BENFEITA KNEW FIRST

In 1945 the outcome of the war was decided. Everyone expected the day of the Nazi surrender, but in the village and for all those connected with it, this desire was joined by anxiety that the tower and the bell would fulfil their purpose. In this spirit of collusion, an employee of a British company, the husband of a villager, learned of the signing of the armistice and immediately telephoned to Benfeita to impart the good news. Chimes echoed around these hills and valleys and immediately everybody knew that peace had arrived.

  • how to arrive

    Coordinates

    GD: 40.2317 -7.94579
    DMS: 40°13′54.12″N 7°56′44.84″W
    UTM: 29T 589683 4454007

Contacts

  • Junta de Freguesia de Benfeita
    Largo do Areal
    3305-031 Benfeita, Arganil
    (+351) 235 741 903

explore

restaurants
Quinta da Palmeira Restaurant
Quinta da Palmeira Restaurant
Cerdeira, Arganil
restaurants
O Pascoal Restaurant
O Pascoal Restaurant
Fajão
restaurants
João Brandão
João Brandão
Oliveira do Hospital
lodging
Casa da Moenda
Casa da Moenda
Benfeita
lodging
Casa do Alto
Casa do Alto
Benfeita
lodging
Casa do Rosmaninho
Casa do Rosmaninho
Pardieiros
lodging
Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa
Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa
Arganil
lodging
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casal Novo, Arganil
lodging
Casa dos Medronheiros
Casa dos Medronheiros
Cepos
lodging
Casas do Rio
Casas do Rio
Fajão
lodging
A Boa Vida do Campo
A Boa Vida do Campo
Tábua
lodging
Adcasinha
Adcasinha
Adcasal, Arganil
lodging
Casa de Campo Memórias da Comarca
Casa de Campo Memórias da Comarca
Arganil
lodging
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
Aldeia das Dez
village
Benfeita
Benfeita
institutional
Junta de Freguesia de Benfeita
Junta de Freguesia de Benfeita
Benfeita, Arganil
tour
Panoramic Road: Benfeita - Piódão
Panoramic Road: Benfeita - Piódão
tour
PR 1 AGN -  Benfeita Schist trail - The freshness of waterfalls
PR 1 AGN - Benfeita Schist trail - The freshness of waterfalls
Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Açor Mountain - Coja (P34 - Black)
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Açor Mountain - Coja (P34 - Black)
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Açor Mountain - Coja (P33 - Red)
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Açor Mountain - Coja (P33 - Red)
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Açor Mountain - Coja (P31 - Green)
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Açor Mountain - Coja (P31 - Green)
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Açor Mountain - Coja (P32 - Blue)
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Açor Mountain - Coja (P32 - Blue)
tour
Vila Cova de Alva Schist Walking Trail - PR4 AGN
Vila Cova de Alva Schist Walking Trail - PR4 AGN
institutional
União de Freguesias Vila Cova de Alva e Anceriz
União de Freguesias Vila Cova de Alva e Anceriz
Vila Cova de Alva, Arganil
village
Vila Cova de Alva
Vila Cova de Alva
tour
Schist Walking Trail of Avô - Around the Alva
Schist Walking Trail of Avô - Around the Alva
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
institutional
União de Freguesias de Cepos e Teixeira
União de Freguesias de Cepos e Teixeira
offer
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
tour
Estrada Panorâmica: Fajão - Janeiro de Baixo
Estrada Panorâmica: Fajão - Janeiro de Baixo
associations
Serra do Açor Mountain Biking Club
Serra do Açor Mountain Biking Club
Arganil
tour
PR2 PPS - Schist Trails of Fajão- Along the Ceira River
PR2 PPS - Schist Trails of Fajão- Along the Ceira River
offer
Dia e Noite no Centro da Natureza
Dia e Noite no Centro da Natureza
institutional
Câmara Municipal de Arganil
Câmara Municipal de Arganil
Arganil
village
Fajão
Fajão
tour
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails  – Climbing the cliffs
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails – Climbing the cliffs
Casas do Rio
heritage
Ponte de Fajão
Ponte de Fajão
institutional
Junta de Freguesia de Fajão
Junta de Freguesia de Fajão
Fajão, Pampilhosa da Serra
heritage
Church of São Bartolomeu
Church of São Bartolomeu
village
Aldeia das Dez
Aldeia das Dez
heritage
Casa do S
Casa do S
institutional
Junta de Freguesia de Aldeia das Dez
Junta de Freguesia de Aldeia das Dez
Aldeia das Dez, Oliveira do Hospital
heritage
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
tour
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 3 – The Footprint of the Ermit
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 3 – The Footprint of the Ermit
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
tour
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 1 - By the floodplains of Alvoco
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 1 - By the floodplains of Alvoco
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
tour
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 2 - Imperial route
Schist Walking Trail of Aldeia das Dez 2 - Imperial route
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
tour
Panoramic Road:   Aldeia das Dez - Sobral de São Miguel
Panoramic Road: Aldeia das Dez - Sobral de São Miguel
tour
Panoramic Road:  Aldeia das Dez - Benfeita
Panoramic Road: Aldeia das Dez - Benfeita

next events

event
A VER Figueiró dos Vinhos: Tradições Populares, Costumes e Eventos Festivos
A VER Figueiró dos Vinhos: Tradições Populares, Costumes e Eventos Festivos
23 nov 2024 - 12 jan 2025, 11:00
Figueiró dos Vinhos
event
Natal e Ano Novo nas Aldeias do Xisto
Natal e Ano Novo nas Aldeias do Xisto
29 nov 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 10:00
event
Christmas Collectibles
Christmas Collectibles
29 nov 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 10:00
Oleiros
event
Oliveira do Hospital - Concelho Natal
Oliveira do Hospital - Concelho Natal
29 nov 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 18:00
event
Natal é na Aldeia das Dez
Natal é na Aldeia das Dez
30 nov 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 10:00
Aldeia das Dez
event
Retratos de Natal em Góis
Retratos de Natal em Góis
30 nov 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 18:30
Góis
event
Sertã Espírito de Natal
Sertã Espírito de Natal
01 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 09:00
event
Natal em Vila de Rei
Natal em Vila de Rei
01 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 10:00
event
Christmas in Candal
Christmas in Candal
01 dec 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 10:00
Candal
event
Natal da Fantasia 2024
Natal da Fantasia 2024
01 dec 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 14:00
Figueiró dos Vinhos
event
Natal no Fundão
Natal no Fundão
01 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 15:00
event
Natal com Arte na Covilhã
Natal com Arte na Covilhã
01 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 15:00
event
Natal na Lousã
Natal na Lousã
01 dec 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 18:00
event
Há Natal em Pedrógão Grande
Há Natal em Pedrógão Grande
04 dec 2024 - 10 jan 2025, 09:00
event
Natal em Arganil
Natal em Arganil
05 dec 2024 - 06 jan 2025, 18:00
event
Natal em Castelo Branco
Natal em Castelo Branco
06 dec 2024 - 31 dec 2024, 17:00
Castelo Branco
event
Penela Presépio 2024
Penela Presépio 2024
08 dec 2024 - 05 jan 2025, 10:00
Penela
event
Natal na Aldeia
Natal na Aldeia
08 dec 2024 - 12 jan 2025, 15:00
Castanheira de Pera
event
Natal em Sobral de São Miguel
Natal em Sobral de São Miguel
21 dec 2024 - 30 dec 2024, 15:00
Sobral de São Miguel
event
Ciclo pelas Igrejas
Ciclo pelas Igrejas
28 dec 2024, 20:30
Aldeia das Dez
event
A Um Cortiço do Céu - Passagem de Ano em Fajão
A Um Cortiço do Céu - Passagem de Ano em Fajão
31 dec 2024 - 01 jan 2025, 11:00
Fajão
event
Moonlight Talasnal
Moonlight Talasnal
10 jan 2025 - 05 dec 2025, 20:30
Talasnal
event
Ceramics Workshop for Beginners
Ceramics Workshop for Beginners
13 jan 2025 - 19 jan 2025, 10:00
Cerdeira
event
Workshop Construção de Fornos Rudimentares
Workshop Construção de Fornos Rudimentares
24 jan 2025 - 26 jan 2025, 10:00
Cerdeira