They've been living under a rock! The stunning medieval Portugal village build in and around gigantic 200-tonne BOULDERS

  • Mountaintop village of Monsanto, in eastern Portugal, sits 2,486 above sea level 
  • Locals have adapted homes around the enormous boulders, rather than attempting to move them
  • Some of the granite stone houses date back to 16th century 

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Living beneath a roof that weighs more than the average cruise ship may make some people a little nervous. 

But it is commonplace for the residents in the Portuguese village of Monsanto, who adapted their homes around the environment filled with gigantic granite boulders.

In the mountaintop village, homes are sandwiched between, under and even in the 200-tonne rocks. 

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'I like that boulder. That is a nice boulder': he Portuguese village of  Monsanto have made their homes around ancient boulders

'I like that boulder. That is a nice boulder': Villagers in Monsanto, Portugal have made their homes around ancient boulders

Watch your head! The boulders, weighing up to 200-tonnes, have been utilised for walls, floors and even ceilings (pictured)

Watch your head! The boulders, weighing up to 200-tonnes, have been utilised for walls, floors and even ceilings (pictured)

The enormous boulders have been utilised as walls, floors, and most astoundingly, as roofs for houses that date back to the 16th century.

In 1938, Monsanto was named 'the most Portuguese village in Portugal', though its jaw-dropping land forms make it anything but regular.

Located in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, in eastern Portugal near the Spanish border, Monsanto sits at 2,486 feet above sea level and has spectacular views.

Donkey is the preferred form of transport for Monsanto's 800 residents, who have managed to maintain the village's medieval character.

Xalima Miriel 700-miles from her home in Irun, Spain to take these extraordinary pictures of this rock village that time forgot.  

Inspiration for Hobbiton? The lush green land with homes built into the landscape looks like something out of Lord of the Rings

Inspiration for Hobbiton? The lush green land with homes built into the landscape looks like something out of Lord of the Rings

Adapting to the environment: Villagers have formed their homes around the existing boulders, rather than attempt to move them

Adapting to the environment: Villagers have formed their homes around the existing boulders, rather than attempt to move them

Medieval: The ancient village, formed out of the granite rocks on the mountain, has stood the test of time

Medieval: The ancient village, formed out of the granite rocks on the mountain, has stood the test of time

Landscape: The cliffs surrounding the village are strewn with enormous rocks

Landscape: The cliffs surrounding the village are strewn with enormous rocks

The village that time forgot: These beautiful pictures were captured by Xalima Miriel, from Spain

The village that time forgot: These beautiful pictures were captured by Xalima Miriel, from Spain

Head in the clouds: Monsanto is perched at 2,486 feet above sea level

Head in the clouds: Monsanto is perched at 2,486 feet above sea level

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