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Tomar Municipality

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    • Camino Portuguese
      1
      Day 11–13

      TOMAR

      April 11 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

      Our train ride back to Lisbon was made all the more memorable thanks to a fellow Pilgrim's recommendation to visit Tomar, a place that we would never have known about otherwise.

      Despite the effort it took to transfer our bikes on three separate train connections, it was well worth the journey. We decided to extend our stay to two nights so that we could fully explore the unique history of this place. Our enthusiastic host, Antonio, was proud to share the fascinating four-century history of his family's building. His great-grandfather operated it as a car factory and, in keeping with the theme, converted it into a cozy kitsch hostel. He graciously left us with a tour guide map of must-see sights.

      Tomar's crown jewel is the Castle of the Knights Templar, our first stop. Built-in 1160, it is the largest and best-preserved European Templar settlement. In the early 14th century, it was converted into Christ Convent (Convento de Cristo), and in 1983, it was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The castle's intact battlements and military architecture made it the most fascinating castle/ convent we'd ever visited. Too much history to abbreviate. History buffs can find more on this link.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomar_Castle?wpro…

      Nestled in the narrow streets of the old Jewish quarter is the well-preserved medieval Jewish Temple, built in 1438. It's rare because it's one of two pre-expulsion synagogues in Portugal. Worship was tolerated under the Order of the Temple, and Jews coexisted peacefully and even thrived economically until 1496, when King Manuel I ruled Portugal, and the persecution and forced conversions of Jews began.

      Our day continued as we followed Antonio's guide and climbed the 286 steps to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade. The trek was challenging but well worth the panoramic views from the top 🥴

      We ended our day with a yet another delicious Portuguese meal and chatted with travelers from France and Germany. Despite the language barriers, we shared a common language through our smiles. The warmth and hospitality of the people of Tomar made us feel at home in this quieter gem of Portugal.      Read more

    • Camino Portuguese
      Day 13–15

      LISBON (2)

      April 13 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

      We trained back to Lisbon to return the rental bikes and catch up with John's brother, Bob, his wife, Linda, and their expat friend, Heather. The city was alive with the energy of spring, and the streets were bustling with activity. We strolled towards Heather's favorite neighborhood pizza place, taking in the sights and sounds of celebrations as vibrant music, joyous laughter, and clinking glasses echoed from the cozy cafes that lined the square. Couples walked hand in hand, their well-groomed dogs trotted alongside them, and the playground was abuzz with the joy and laughter of children.

      Pizza was a welcomed break from the typical Portuguese fare we'd been trying daily and some of the best I've had on a thin, crispy crust. John and I shared one with fresh anchovy topping while our dinner mates opted for their version of the "everything" topping.

      Day 2 was a walking and sightseeing day. We've been blessed with great weather ao far. Down the hills to St. Vincent Monastery and up the steps to the clock tower for a magnificent view.      Read more

    • TravelerBUEN CAMINO 2023
      Day 10

      Etappe 8

      May 17, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      Als wir heute Morgen, mehr oder weniger ausgeschlafen, Fatima verliessen war es noch recht früh am Tag. Wir wussten ja, dass uns heute eine ziemlich lange Wanderstrecke bevorstand. Und so war es dann auch....Diese Etappe war recht anstrengend! Erstens, weil sie nur bis zum Ortsausgang von Fatima ausgeschildert war und zweitens, weil die Gegend sehr hügelig ist und oft an Hauptstrassen entlang führt. Somit waren wir immer irgendwie damit beschäftigt, nicht vom Weg abzukommen. Diese Strecke wird auch nicht sooo häufig begangen. Einige Pilger bevorzugen dafür, wenn schon, dann den Bus. So können sie diese landschaftlich schöne, jedoch etwas einsame Gegend auch geniessen. Wir konnten das auch, sogar viiiel länger!! Schatten gab es leider nicht allzuviel! So waren wir oft der heissen Sonne ausgesetzt. Darum wurde wohl der Durst auch immer grösser und dafür die Schritte etwas kleiner. Echt..es gab wirklich kein einziges Gasthaus am Wegesrand. Im Tomar angekommen, stürzten wir uns sogleich ins erste Café und erholten uns von dem langenen, "trockenen" Marsch! Dann bezogen wir unsere, auch heute wieder schöne, Unterkunft!  Weil Tomar viel zu bieten hat, machten wir anschliessend noch eine kleine sightseeing Tour. Zum krönenden Abschluss fanden wir uns in einer Gartenwirtschaft wieder, wo eine junge Musikerin mit Gitarre im Arm, gekonnt wunderschöne Lieder zum Besten gab. Das war ein genialer Abschluss für den heutigen Tag.
      Tschau zämä!      Read more

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    • El Camino
      Day 9

      Day 6: Golega to Tomar

      May 9, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

      The walk from Golega to Tomar was another long 30+ kilometre trek in 30+ sunny weather with nary a cloud in the sky.

      We started gently to ensure any potential sore spots didn't develop into something full blown that would quash our Camino. The first third of the walk went by pleasantly and we enjoyed the relative coolness of the morning. The second third took us through a eucalyptus forest that offered dappled shading and some good climbs. We then slogged through the last third on mainly open roads that mercilessly offered no shade.

      We were so happy to arrive in Tomar, and even happier knowing we were going to take a rest day tomorrow.

      We felt a great sense of accomplishment having accomplished 2 long days in a row under such heat, but we agreed that we would do our best to avoid 30+ kilometre days going forward.

      Total kilometres walked since Lisbon: 152      Read more

    • skip's retirement travelIberia
      Day 26

      Tomar

      May 19, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

      Tomar is a small town in central Portugal that has an outsized historical footprint. This is where the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal was located (see additional posts). This post looks at the town itself.
      When the Romans were here, this was called Sellium. After the expulsion of the Moors in the 12th century, the site was granted to the Templars who became the feudal lords. The town developed, 1st within the walls and later expanded outside the fortress walls. Today the old town is located around the foot of the hill upon which the fortress is built. The newer town is beyond the old town.
      The 1st picture is the view from my room. That is the castle and convent on the hill. The 2nd picture is the church of St. Mary of Olival that dates to at least the 12th century, though the current building is a 13th century renovation. Many Templars are buried here.
      The 3rd picture clearly demonstrates the importance of the Templars to Tomar. That's a city sidewalk with Templar crosses everywhere. The 4th picture is s city park with a waterwheel designed to lift water, probably originally for irrigation. The 5th picture is a view over the town from the castle. The 6th picture is a formal garden in a park at the foot of the castle hill. The 7th picture is in the best preserved medieval synagogue is Portugal. It dates to the middle of the 15th century. You can see the Torah in the ark.
      The 8th picture is the main square, Republic Square. The stature is the 1st grand master of the Portuguese Templars, Gualdim de Pais. The 9th picture is a typical street in the old town.
      The 10th picture is part of the Camino de Santiago, the famous pilgrimage path. The Portuguese route passes through the castle and convent.      Read more

    • 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

    • TravelerCamino Portuguese
      Day 12

      Day 8 Rest Day in Tomar

      September 16, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 72 °F

      Day 8 Rest Day in Tomar. Saturday, September 16. Sightseeing walked 9.5k/6m

      It’s raining! Thunder & lightening too. Ventured out about 9:00. Hit the pharmacy for some foot cream with exfoliate for my rough heels and more tape. Had a healthy breakfast of scrambled eggs, greens and bacon. Got an extra pair of socks, if I decide to start wearing them for my walks.

      Pouring Rain Again. Chilled out in my nice big, bright, airy room for a couple hours. Then it was off for a hike up to the Templar Castle & Convent of Christ.

      The Templar Castle was built in 1160 in the image of Middle-East castles. I was able to walk around the grounds and the walls. Photos provide an idea of its size.

      Convent of Christ (World Heritage site) part of castle grounds and built from the 12th century. It was home to the Order of Christ from the 14c onwards. This place is massive. I took a lot of photos. Just hard to explain the art, tiling, architecture, etc.

      Visited a couple churches and back to room to get my pack reorganized. It sure was nice not to have to pack it all up & put it on today! Tomorrow back to the path.

      Enjoy the photos and captions. Bom Caminho      Read more

    • TravelerSpain, Portugal Road Trip
      Day 12

      Tomar

      March 28 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

      The historic centre of Tomar sits alongside the Nabão River and the narrow cobbled streets surround the imposing Praça da República plaza.

      Every 4 years Tomar celebrates Festa dos Tabuleiros. One of the highlights is the Parade of Trays represent the parishes of the municipality. Traditionally, the tray is carried by a girl dressed in white and the multilayered tray is decorated with colored paper flowers, ears of wheat, and 30 loaves of bread, each weighing 400 grams. The tray is topped by the Dove of the Holy Spirit.

      Museo dos Fósforus is one of those quirky museums - it houses the private collection of 43,000 unique matchboxes from all over the world - testament to the determination and passion of a single person - a well travelled businessman from Tomar who started collecting in 1959.

      Row after row in seven large rooms the matchboxes on show are arranged by country of origin and sometimes by subject, with the oldest ones dating back to the late 1800s.

      Dinner - an incredible excellent Indian meal.      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Tomar, Tomar Municipality

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