North Portugal Tourism Guide - Tomar

Convento de Cristo Medieval Knights Templar Art & Decor

The Convento de Cristo is a rambling castle-style monastery set atop a wooded hill that was the headquarters of the legendary Knights Templar. The Knights Templar held enormous power from the 12th to the 16th centuries and financed a large proportion of the Portuguese Age of Discoveries. Enclosed in 12th century walls the Convento is everything you'd expect from a stronghold of the Order of the Knights Templar, a theatrical, imposing testament to their strength and power. Open Jun-Sept 9 am-6.30 pm, Oct-May 9 am-5.30 pm. Last admission half an hour before closing. Tel: 351 249 313 481.

The monastery was founded by Gualdim Pais the Grand Master of the Templars. The various different chapels, cloisters and chaptehouses were added over a period from that time by successive kings and Grand Masters hence the differing architectural styles throughout including Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance. There are two tours to guide through the melee of history and architecture; a short route taking about forty five minutes and a more comprehensive ninety minute tour.

The sixteen sided Templar church is the Charola that dominates the monastery. The 12th century round design was based on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It is incredible inside with high ceilings, colourful depictions, intricate carvings everywhere and Manueline sculptures peeking out from the columns. The two cloisters east of the Charola, Claustro do Cemiterio and Claustro da Lavagem are beautifully decorated with blue and white azulejos. These were built at the time Henry the Navigator was Grand Master in the 15th century. The chapterhouse is a celebration of Manueline intricacy as well as of the Age of Discoveries that the famous window on the western side depicts with ropes twisting around each other, seaweed, boats below the Cross of the Order of Christ and the royal arms and armillary spheres of Dom Manuel.

The Renaissance style of the Claustro Principal is a complete contrast to the rest of the monastery's flamboyant Manueline architecture. Commissioned during the reign of Joao III it is probably the finest expression of this style. It received the input of both a Spanish and an Italian architect, Diogo de Torralva and Filippo Terzi. Both are credited with having introduced the Renaissance style to Portugal. There is so much to see here that you can easily spend a day trying to take in all the intricacies and imagine the Knights Templar worshipping their faith here, when they weren t out conquering the Moors that is.

Tomar Old Town & Tourist Attractions

On the way down from the monastery are several churches including Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceicao a pure Renaissance basilica built in the 16th century and Igreja de Sao Joao Baptista, the old town's most striking church that dates from the 15th century with its octagonal spire and fabulously ornamented Manueline doorway. Inside are azulejos painted by Portugal's finest 16th century artists, Gregorio Lopes.

The town has several museums including a contemporary art museum, Museu Municipal de Arte Contemporanea, Rua Gil de Avo. Open Oct-Jun Thurs-Sun 12 5 pm. July-Sept Thurs-Sun 10 am 7 pm; the town's museum Museu Municipal Joao de Castilho; the surprising Match Museum, Museu dos Fosforos on Varzea Grande, Largo 5 de Outubro with 40,000 matchboxes - the largest collection in Europe. Open daily: 10 am-5 pm; and the Museu Hebraico Abraao Zacuto on Rua Dr. Joaquim Jacinto no 73, a preserved medieval synagogue that was built between 1430 and 1460 that was only in use for few years, cut short by Dom Manuel's edict that forced many of the Jewish populations in southern Portugal to flee to the north, particularly the Tras-os-Montes region. Admission is free, open daily 10 am-1 pm and 2-6 pm.

The Tourist Information Office is on the east side of town on Avenida Dr Candido Madureira. Open in winter 10 am-1 pm and 2-6 pm. Summer 10 am-7 pm. Sat, Sun and holidays 10 am-1 pm and 2-6 pm. Tel: 351 249 329 823. Fax: 351 249 322 427. Email: turismo.tomar@sapo.pt.

Tomar has a good range of accommodation and plenty of cafes and restaurants, particularly around Avenida Dr Candido Madureira and around the Vareza Grande. The riverside is also poplar on summer evenings. The train and bus stations are on Avenida Combatentes da Grande Guerra and are within easy walking distance of the centre. They're pretty strict on parking restrictions in Tomar but there is free parking on Vareza Grande beside the bus station.

Countryside, National Forest and Adventure Activities

The countryside around Tomar is well worth exploring. Right next to the town is the Seven Hills National Forest, Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes. As a National Forest it is open to the public to wander through and is a mix of planted trees and gardens, native woodland and places of interest including parks, historic monuments and of course the Convento de Cristo and the Aqueduct of Pegoes; an impressive aqueduct that was built from 1593 to 1613 to supply water to the monastery. It has 180 arches and is double decker in places. It's best seen just off the Leiria road just over 2 kilometres from town. Another popular area for walking and the stunning views is the reservoir and hydroelectric dam at Castelo do Bode - a deep wooded river valley though which the River Zezere flows. The reservoir is popular for watersports including water skiing, jet skiing and canoeing.

Local activity companies also offer walking, cycling and mountain biking, canoeing, rock climbing, and parachuting. The Rio Nabao is popular for canoeing.

Via Aventura, Rua Marques de Pombal 2. Tel/Fax: 351 249 324 464. 1000 Leguas Tel: 351 249 324 807 correio@1000leguas.com canoeing and climbing courses.

Horseriding contact Coudelaria Ruy Escudeiro Tel: 351 249 314 371. Three kilometres from Tomar.