Located in the Central region of Portugal, about an hour and a half north of Lisbon, is the historic town of Tomar. This charming and culturally rich town was the last Knights Templar town to be commissioned and played a significant role during the Portuguese Renaissance and the overseas expansion during the Age of Discovery.
The town itself is picturesque, with well-preserved architecture, attractive streets, and the River Nabão that runs through it. The focal point and historic jewel in town is the 12th C. castle that contains one of the country’s most significant and impressive monuments, the Convent of Christ, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The octagonal church is said to be modeled after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
The main square features a unique chessboard pattern that was later replicated in Lisbon when the city was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake. Prominently located in the center of the square is the statue of Gualdim Pais, Grand Master of the Order of Knights Templar, and the founder of Tomar. He supervised the building of the Convent of Christ, which established Tomar as the new headquarters of the Templars. The tomb of Pais and several other Knights can be visited in the 12th C. Church of Santa Maria do Olival located just on the other side of the river.
When the Templars were banned in Europe, the Order of Christ was created. Henry the Navigator was made Governor of the Order in the 15th C., and it was from the Convent of Christ that he directed Portugal’s expansion overseas. The Convent was also the site where the short-lived formation of the Iberian Union took place in 1581 when Philip II of Spain was also recognized as Philip I of Portugal.
Other important sites in Tomar include:
- Praça da República – elegant main square
- Church of São João Baptista – 15th C. church on the main square
- Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição – 16th C. church on the hill leading to the castle
- Church of Santa Maria do Olival – 12th C. church that was the burial place of Knights Templar and Knights of the Order of Christ
- Synagogue of Tomar – the best-preserved medieval synagogue in the country (built in 1430) with a small Jewish Museum. For more information, click here
- Museu dos Fosforos (Matchbox Museum) – a unique museum that houses the largest private matchbox collection in Europe
- Aqueduct of Pegões – 6 km long aqueduct built in the 16-17th C. to bring water to the Convent of Christ
- Castle of Almourol – a 12th C. Templar castle located on a small island in the middle of the Tagus River, 20 km. south of Tomar
Tomar is also home to one of Portugal’s most colorful festivals, which only takes place once every four years in July. The Festival dos Tabuleiros (Festival of Trays) is one of the country’s oldest festivals, dating back to the 1300s. The week-long celebration includes dancing, drinking and local food, and is best known for the parade that features two long lines of women carrying tall trays on their heads filled with bread and flowers. The next festival will take place in 2023.
For information and reservations for our hotels in Tomar, click here.
Book a private tour! You may want to consider booking a private tour with an English-speaking guide. Your personal guide can provide you with information on the city and its historical sites. For more information on our Lisbon Day Trip that includes Tomar, click here, and for information on all of our Lisbon & Lisbon Day Trip tours, click here.
Photo Credit: Tomáš Páv / Photo of Praça da República – Convent of Christ in background
For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.