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    • TravelerSpain, Portugal Road Trip
      Day 11

      Castelo de Tomar

      March 27 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

      Tomas was one of the most influential towns of the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period as it was the stronghold and religious home of the Templar Knights. The Order existed from 1118 to 1312, when the Pope extinguished it and deprived it of its immense wealth and assets.

      However, King Denis I of Portugal cleverly transformed the disbanded order into a new organization known as the Order of Christ. This allowed him to appropriate their wealth and maintain control over Tomar’s castle and convent.

      The castle and the Convento de Cristo are expansive and for the most part, impeccably preserved with minimal modern reconstruction. Perched high up the castle ramparts have magnificent views of the town.      Read more

    • TravelerCamino Portugues 2023
      Day 7

      Day 7, Zero day in Tomar, Portugal

      April 7, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

      It was a nice break to be able to leisurely wake up and lounge in bed this morning. We hope to do a rest day about once a week while on this journey. Tomar has been the ideal rest stop. There’s lots to see, a plentiful grocery store, and a great selection of restaurants. The history here is amazing. We grabbed a Tuk-Tuk ride up to the 12th Century Knights Templar castle then took a short stroll through town.Read more

    • skip's retirement travelIberia
      Day 27

      Templar Church

      May 20, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

      Given that the Templar Fortress/Convent of Christ is the main event in Tomar for me, then the main event in the main event is the church. I was simply blown away. The church is round with a squared off later addition.
      The 1st picture is from the outside. You can see the round section to the right which was the original part of the church. In order to build suspense gradually, I'll start with the later, rectangular addition. It contains 2 choirs: the upper in the 2nd picture and the lower, directly below the upper, in the 3rd. The low window in the 2nd picture below the upper choir opens on the lower choir. The entry to the church is in the rectangular space between the choirs and the main, original, part of the church. The 4th picture is a small side chapel off the main church.
      The rest of the pictures are in the round church that dates to the 12th century. The high roof, the artwork, the free standing central nave, the carving and so much more took my breath away. I hope these few pictures give you some small idea of the awe I experienced here. I even backtracked to visit the church again, and I still left stunned.
      I'm told that the design may have been in influenced by the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Dome of the Rock, both in Jerusalem. That's seems feasible given the Templar presence there and their devotion to that city. Also, it seems that the design provides for Templar knights to be able to ride their horses into the church and around the Charola, as it's called, to receive a blessing immediately before departing on a journey. I just love the practicality!
      I don't think I've ever suggested that some place I've been is a must see. But if you are at all into history, the Templars, art, or even church architecture, you need to come here. It's that big a deal.      Read more

    • skip's retirement travelIberia
      Day 27

      Templar Castle and Convent of Christ

      May 20, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

      This is, for me, the main attraction in Tomar. The castle/monastery was founded in the early 12th century by the Order of the Poor Knights of the Temple, the Knights Templar. In the 13th century, Tomar became the seat or main headquarters of the entire order.
      When the Knights Templar Order was dissolved in the middle of the 14th century and at the urging of the king of Portugal, a new order, the Order of Christ, was proclaimed by the Pope. In Portugal, the members and assets of the Templars were transfered to the new order. The Templar fortress became the Convent of Christ and headquarters of the new order.
      This is an incredibly spectacular space, so much so that it has been the setting for many movies. In fact, filming was in progress during my visit. So significant parts of the convent were closed. Oh well.
      The 1st picture is the main gate. The next 5 pictures are various cloisters scattered throughout the convent. I don't think I've ever seen a monastery with more than one cloister. Here are 5, and others were in the closed section. The 2nd picture catches a corner of the church (see another post) above th cloister. The 3rd picture is the hospitality cloister for pilgrims, clergy, traveling brothers, etc. Social standing determined which floor one was lodged. Higher standing, higher floor.
      The 7th picture is the church (see another post), and the 8th picture is the ornate Manueline window. This open into the chapter house (closed). The Manueline decorations, named for King Manuel I, celebrate the age of discovery.
      The 9th picture is an arched hallway in the convent.      Read more

    • TravelerLisbon to Miami
      Day 5

      Tomar & Obidos

      November 19, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

      Fog greeted us again today! By the time we reached Tomar, it was mainly blue sky.

      Tomar is known as Templer City, founded by the Knights Templer in 1160, when land was granted to them. The Convent of Christ is the main attraction.

      On to the Mosterio da Batalha (Mosteiro de Santa Maria). It was built in 1385 to celebrate a military victory. It took two centuries to build, and one of the chapels was never finished. There are several distinct chapels and cloisters within the complex. Since it was Sunday, there was a service in the main chapel.
      Chapel was impressive, especially with the sun shining in the stained glass window, which reflected on the walls
      On the roof of the unfinished chapel are outside pipe organs. At one time they could be heard thru out the village.

      Last stop was the village of Obidos. Obidos is surrounded by a Roman built wall. Very quaint streets, with the church being converted into a book store.      Read more

    • TravelerFrance and More
      Day 21

      Tomar Aqueduct

      January 18, 2020 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

      This rather fine construction just a short distance from Tomar is The Aqueduct of Pegoēs and is a must visit for anybody heading that way. More than 6 Kilometeres in length it was completed back in the 17th century to carry water to the Convent of Christ AKA that big Castle on the hill. In one of the photos you can see both Glynis and myself standing in the path that runs along the waterway and if you are up for it you can walk the length of it. Not if but when you decide to go, the monument is a bit to far for a casual stroll so some form of transport is required (we used the services of the friendly and knowledgable Tuk Tuk driver).Read more

    • TravelerPortugal
      Day 64

      Convento de Cristo e Castelo Templário

      April 20, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

      Das Christuskloster und die Templerburg bilden ein in seiner Art einzigartiges Monumentalensemble. Es wurde 1983 von der UNESCO zum Weltkulturerbe erklärt. Seine Fläche entspricht der Fläche einer durchschnittlichen mittelalterlichen Stadt.
      Die Burg von Tomar wurde 1160 von Gualdim Pais, Ritter von König Afonso Henriques und Großmeister der Templer, erbaut. Ihr Bau ist eng mit der christlichen Rückeroberung des Königreichs und der Rolle des Tempelordens verbunden. In den folgenden Jahren konnten die Templer einen enormen Reichtum anhäufen und ihre Macht vergrößern. Sie fühlten sich direkt dem Papst unterstellte, als staatsunabhängige Organisation. Damit wurden sie eine Gefahr für weltliche Herrscher. Philipp IV. von Frankreich nutzte Gerüchte über seltsame Rituale hinter den Mauern der Templerburgen zur Zerschlagung der Organisation.
      In Portugal wurde der Christusorden gegründet, der sich als Verwahrer aller spirituellen und materiellen Reichtümer der Templer sah. Das Convento de Cristo e Castelo Templário war ab 1357 Hauptsitz des Christusordens.
      In ihrer Funktion als Wehr- und Sakralbau stand das Christuskloster in Tomar unter der Führung vieler Könige. Immer wieder wurde die Anlage erweitert, die sowohl dem Schutz des Königreiches diente, als auch ein wichtiger Ort für die Kirche war. Das Kloster wurde 1591 fertiggestellt. Die Klosteranlagen und ein fünf Kilometer langes Aquädukt wurden im 17. Jahrhundert abgeschlossen. Insgesamt wurde 400 Jahre an der Anlage gebaut. So findet man hier natürlich Beispiele für romanische, gotische, manuelinische und Renaissance-Baustile.
      Das Kloster hat acht Kreuzgänge mit schönen Innenhöfen. Am schönsten ist die romanische Rundkirche. Sie wurde in der zweiten Hälfte des 12. Jahrhunderts von den Tempelrittern erbaut. Die Templer orientierten sich dabei an der Grabeskirche in Jerusalem.
      Von außen ist die Kirche ein Bau mit 16 Seiten, mit starken Strebepfeilern, runden Fenstern und einem Glockenturm. Im Inneren hat die Rundkirche einen zentralen, achteckigen Bau, der durch Bögen mit einer umlaufenden Empore verbunden ist.      Read more

    • TravelerPortugal in the Motorhome
      Day 7

      Tomar2 The Knights Templar

      September 14, 2019 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      A visit to the Former Seat of the Order of the Knights Templar and the Convent of Christ is an absolute must for anyone visiting Tomar so pull on those walking shoes and make the long trek uphill or do the sensible thing and get in a Tuk Tuk for €2.50 a person and then when your visit is over drink beer 🍻 at the Café until another Tuk Tuk happens along.Read more

    • TravelerPortugal
      Day 7

      Convento de Cristo

      June 27, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

      This was built by the Knights Templar starting in the 12th century as a fortification against the Moors. When the pope and the French King dissolved the Knights Templar at the beginning of the 14th century, the Portuguese king got the pope to allow the Portuguese branch of the Templars to just change their name to the Order of Christ and keep going and building additions to this monastery. The order was secularized by the government in 1789 and had its properties, including this monastery, seized by the government in 1834. For a while, it was used as a warehouse and olive oil storage. It's famous for its carved window, and I loved all the different courtyards and whimsical stone carvings. And of course I have great respect for the Templars' financial innovation.Read more

    • Treasured MemoriesPortugal
      Day 6

      Convent of Christ, Tomar, Portugal

      August 29, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

      The Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a stunning blend of medieval and Renaissance architecture. Built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar, it evolved into a grand convent. Its intricate Manueline window, ornate cloisters, and historical significance make it a captivating testament to Portugal's past.Read more

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