| Tomar is a Templar town and this is apparent | | | | boost to the royal coffers confiscated all Templar |
| everywhere you go. Tomar is more geared up for | | | | property in France. Pope Clement clearly thought this |
| tourists than most of the towns in this area, although | | | | a good idea and disbanded the order. |
| that is changing apace. The most impressive building | | | | Driven from Spain and France they sought refuge in |
| by far is Tomar castle more correctly called the | | | | Portugal now the ruler Dom Dinis being an obedient |
| Convento de Cristo and dominates the skyline from | | | | catholic outlawed the Templar but immediately |
| many directions. | | | | started a new order the Knights of Christ.Tomar |
| The whole complex is a UNESCO world heritage site | | | | soon became their HQ and fifty years later Henry |
| one of only seven in Portugal. The knights Templar | | | | the navigator built a fleet of ships with the orders |
| who where founded by King Baldwin 1 of France in | | | | now vast wealth and set out to explore what was |
| the year 1118 during the first crusade. The Knights | | | | soon to become Portugal’s great empire. |
| where instrumental in fighting the Moors in Portugal | | | | The whole complex built over several hundred years |
| and in fact Spain, for this they where handsomely | | | | is without question the finest castle I have ever |
| rewarded with titles lands and castles. | | | | visited. I take all my visiting friends and family their |
| In 1162 grand master Gualda Pais a close friend of | | | | and never tire of its magnificence, whether it be the |
| Prince Afonso Henriques built a fortress church, it | | | | huge Imposing entrance the intricate Manueline |
| became the HQ in Portugal and the first part of what | | | | window the ornately decorated inner Templar chapel |
| was to become the Convento de Cristo. | | | | or the amazing decorative ceilings, the beautiful |
| As you walk through this labyrinth of passageways | | | | gardens or the sheer size and scale of it all it is simply |
| and rooms it is easy to take a journey back in time | | | | magnificent. |
| and live a little in their footsteps. Or walk in the | | | | Tomar itself is a very pretty town and always |
| gardens and imagine fine ladies courted by Knights of | | | | reminds me of my home town of Shrewsbury with |
| many empires, darker thoughts lie in looking over the | | | | its river dividing the old town from the new. The |
| battlements at the imposing job of any would be | | | | town square is a delight with a 17th century Town |
| attackers. | | | | Hall and town houses then there is the church Sao |
| In 1249 the Moors where finally driven from Portugal | | | | Juao Baptista 1510 there are many cafes and |
| and the Templar lands wealth and power grew until | | | | restaurants in the streets around. A very old |
| half the Monarchies of Europe were fearful of there | | | | synagogue still stands with a dark history of its own. |
| positions. | | | | The Hotels are of a good standard and well priced, |
| King Philippe Le Bel of France having seemingly had | | | | eating out is both rewarding and easy on the pocket. |
| enough of the Knights and perhaps in need of a | | | | |