While visiting Tomar you’ll be wrapped in medieval magic. We can name three things that made a lasting impression:
- The historical city centre with its architecture, old buildings from 17th and 18th century, the authentic Republic Square, the Portuguese stone paved and narrow streets.
- The Templar Castle. Atop a hill stays a medieval castle built in the late 12th century by the Templar Knights to defend the Christians against the Moorish invasion. Within its walls you will find Tomar’s pride -the Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo) that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The superb cloisters, the paintings and tiles decorating its interior, the combination of Romanesque, 12th to 16th-century Gothic and Renaissance architecture will leave a mark on you.
- The food. Lunch at Taverna Antiqua is far from being just another foodie experience. The authentic feel of the place along with the hearty meals will raise even more the appetite for discovering Tomar.
And now some history…
The area has been occupied by humans for over 30.000 years. There are three important periods for Tomar’s history: the Roman Empire, the Visigoth ruling and the Reconquista which goes hand-in-hand with the creation of the Portuguese nation.
The city of Tomar is intimately connected with the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon more commonly known as the Knights Templar. It was founded in 1160 by Gualdim Pais, a Portuguese Knight Templar who was not only the Grand Master of the military order, but a very good friend and brother in arms of the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques.
The Knights Templar is mostly remembered for making holly wars against Muslims in the Holly Land on the 12th century. Though what most people forget is that about the same time they fought the crusades in East, they also did it in the west.
From 711 A.D., the Iberian Peninsula was occupied by the Muslims, and since the 10th century there had been a well-organized attempt to expel them. This period is known as Reconquista. The Knights Templar had an important role in the last period of the Reconquista, particularly on the war front of Portugal.
Ever since the beginning, Afonso Henriques made everything to provide conditions for the military order to grow in Portugal. This was consolidated when he offered several lands along the Tagus river and the city of Tomar, which became their headquarters.
During its existence, the Knights Templar ruled the lands, controlled borders and helped the first kings to gradually reconquer and re-Christianize the rest of the territory on the south.
In 1312, the order was extinct by Pope Clement V and all European nations under the influence of the Vatican had to obey the new rule. In Portugal King Dinis had no other chance but to accept it. However, he had other plans. Acknowledging the importance and recognizing all its past and connection to the foundation of Portugal, Dinis would ask permission to create a new military order. In 1319, the Papal Bull is conceded and the new Military Order of Christ is founded, receiving all the properties and most of the members from the previous Knights Templar.
This new order will be the sponsor for the the sea discoveries one century later (1400’s) with Henry “The Navigator” becoming its Grand Master. In 1834 the order was suppressed.
Convent of Christ
The convent complex dominates the whole hill, and can be seen from all over Tomar. It is a labyrinthine building, with many and several phases of construction (from the 12th to the 17th century).
The element that stands out from the rest is the round-shaped church that is very uncommon. This is a characteristic for many Templar buildings, and it originally came from the temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. All its interior decoration belongs already to the 16th century.
Another noticeable element is the outside chapter house window, one of the most iconic symbols of the Manueline movement.
The convent has seven different cloisters with impressive decoration. There is yet one cloister that distinguishes itself for the brilliant work (by Diogo Torralva), a masterpiece of the mannerism architecture, where light and shade play along the beauty of simplicity.
What else to see:
Church of St John the Baptist (Igreja de São João) with its outstanding Manueline architecture
The synagogue of Tomar, one of the best preserved medieval synagogues in Portugal
How to get to Tomar
Lisbon to Tomar by car: Click here to see the route!
Lisbon to Tomar by bus: The operating company is Rede Expressos and you may check their timetable here. The departures are from Sete Rios station, next to Jardim Zoologico (also a metro station on the blue line).
Lisbon to Tomar by train: Take the train in Santa Apolonia (last metro station on the blue line) and in Oriente (red line next to the airport) with regular daily departures.
