Castle of the Knights Templar in Tomar

Why don’t you let the Castle of the Knights Templar surprise you?

Castle of the Knights Templar
© Tomar Terra Templária

The castle in the city of Tomar or "Castelo dos Templarios" is considered one of the most important Portuguese military buildings of the 12th century. Inside, it houses the Convent of Christ, a monument of great historic value and majestuosidad, forming a unique example of its genre. It has been listed as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1983.

Castelo dos Templários de Tomar, Portugal

Castelo dos Templários © Celestino Manuel

The building of the castle began on March 1st, 1160. That date has become the “Day of Tomar.” The building was an issue of military strategy since it was necessary to establish a fort that could defend the borderlands with the Muslim regions.

Guialdim Pais, Master of the Knights Templar, was the main overseer of the building of the castle, considered as one of the largest examples of defensive architecture in Portugal.

Within the walls of the castle you can still see some old houses. The towers surrounding the exterior walls were considered a great innovation in the time, and were - in fact - introduced by the Knights Templar in this very castle for the first time in Portugal. This kind of towers resisted heavier attacks than the traditional square-shaped ones.

In the entrance, surrounded by towers, you will see a great esplanade with flowers and bushes cut into geometric shapes. At the end of the area, you will find a stair leading to the one of the most interesting spots in within the castle: the Convent of Christ in Tomar, that boasts a kind of architectural mixing only achieved after five centuries of history. This temple features both Gothic and Renaissance elements, as well as Arab architecture. All in all, it offers a result worth seeing.

The famous circular church, located behind the homage tower, also dates back to the late 12th century and was modelled following the design of the Dome of the Rock (Mesquita da Rocha) in Jerusalem. The church is characterized by its domed ceiling and the bell on its tower.

The history of the castle is full of mysteries many have tried to unravel. Do you dare solving them? Throughout history, legends about the treasure of the Knights Templars were many, and it seems that the Castle of Tomar is the perfect place to find it!

More information:

Location:

Castelo Templário de Tomar, Portugal.

Ticket price:

Basic admission: 6€
Compound admission (World Heritage Route: Alcobaça, Batalha, and Convent of Christ): 15€
There are discounts for senior citizens over 65, large families, underage, and Youth Card holders.
Free admission on Sundays and Bank Holidays until 14:00.

Opening hours:

October through May from 9:00 to 17:30 (last admission at 17:00).
June through September from 9:00 to 18:30 (last admission at 18:00).
Closed on January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, and December 25th.

Recommended Excursions:

Mapa Interactivo:

Other worth-visiting nearby towns and cities:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal