Real Fábrica de Gelo da Serra de Montejunto, Archaeological site of an 18th-century ice factory in Lamas e Cercal, Portugal
The Royal Ice Factory of Montejunto is an archaeological complex with water basins of different sizes arranged in tiers along the mountain slope. The system combined shallow tanks for freezing with underground cylindrical storage silos to preserve the ice.
Dominican friars built the complex before 1741, harnessing the winter cold of the Montejunto region to freeze water on a large scale. The factory supplied Lisbon with ice for nearly 150 years until industrial production methods ended operations in the 1880s.
The factory was deeply rooted in the local community, as workers and residents collaborated in the ice harvesting process. This shared labor shaped the rhythm of life in the region for generations.
The site sits about 40 kilometers north of Lisbon on a mountain slope where elevation and exposure created natural freezing conditions. Exploring the complex requires basic fitness to navigate the tiered basins and storage facilities spread across the terrain.
The ice was stored in underground cylindrical vaults insulated with straw before being transported on donkeys and carts to the port. This preservation method allowed ice to be shipped over long distances without significant loss.
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