Templar Route: Tomar and Castillo de Almourol from Lisbon
Description
Discover the secret history of the Knights Templar in Portugal on a small-group tour from Lisbon to the cities of Constancia and Tomar. You'll learn the history of the Templars as you explore Almourol Castle, the Convent of Christ, and other fascinating Knights Templar sites that offer a unique perspective on the Christian knightly order. You won't have to worry about making your own way there instead, you'll sit back and relax in a Wi-Fi equipped Van and enjoy the scenery along the journey. Along the way the driver guide will explain all the details of the tour to the door of each monument and a brief explanation of each monument will be given. The guide does not enter the monuments.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Almourol Castle is located in the parish of Praia do Ribatejo, municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha, district of Santarém, in Portugal, although its location is often attributed to Tancos, as it is the closest town and from where it can be seen best. . Built on a granite outcrop 18 meters above water level, on a small island 310 meters long and 75 meters wide, in the middle course of the Tagus River, slightly below its confluence with the Zêzere River, at the time of the Reconquista it was part of the so-called Tagus Line, currently the Templar Tourism Region. It constitutes one of the most representative examples of military architecture of the time, simultaneously evoking the beginnings of the kingdom of Portugal and the Order of the Templars, an association that reinforces its aura of mystery and romanticism. With the extinction of the Order of the Temple, the castle of Almourol became part of the heritage of the Order of Christ (which was the successor in Portugal to the Order of the Templars).
The Convent of Christ (12th century – 18th century) is the name given to a group of historic buildings located in the parish of São João Baptista, city of Tomar, Portugal. The beginning of its construction dates back to 1160 and is closely linked to the beginnings of the Kingdom of Portugal and the role then played by the Order of the Templars, where it had its Portuguese headquarters, having subsequently been reconfigured and expanded by the heir Order of Christ.
The Church of Santa Maria dos Olivais, also referred to as the Church of Santa Maria do Olival, is located on the left bank of the Nabão River, in the parish of Tomar (São João Baptista) and Santa Maria dos Olivais, in the city of Tomar, Portugal. [1] Built in the 12th century, it was the headquarters of the Templar Order in the country, having served as a pantheon of the Order's masters. Classified as a National Monument since 1910,[1] it is one of the most emblematic examples of Gothic art in Portugal.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The Driver will be waiting for you, with a sign with your name.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(3)
We had a lovely day with João. Because it was a Monday the castle was closed but he informed us before the cancellation date and we were totally fine with his proposed adjustments. He provide a wonderful commentary and we had a solitary space to view the castle. We had a longer time at the Church Santa Maria do Olival so we got to visit the local cemetery. Amazing. And of course the highlight the Convent of Christ. It is a fascinating mixture of history and art. Jãoa then found us a beautiful place for lunch and a pleasant ride back to Lisbon. Highly recommend this tour and this guide
At Recordtours we value excellence in all our services and we deeply value the feedback from each client, so we cannot fail to thank you for choosing us. We are happy to know that we were able to meet your expectations and, if necessary, we will be fully available for other tours. Best Regards Miguel Morais 🇵🇹
Very nice day in the area of Tomar. We loved the Almaroul Castle and the Church of Santa Maria das Olivais for their historical importance. The Templar convent in Tomar is truly spectacular. You can easily spend 2 hours or more there. The small town of Tomar is also very nice. Our guide and driver, John (Jalaludin), was very friendly. He provided us with information before each visit and then let us wander around as we pleased.
The driver was very attentive in making sure we felt we saw everything we wanted to see. There is no guide so you are at your leisure to explore each site on your own w/ any strict time restraints. You can go faster or slower which worked well for this particular itinerary.
At Recordtours we value excellence in all our services and we deeply value the feedback from each client, so we cannot fail to thank you for choosing us. We are happy to know that we were able to meet your expectations and, if necessary, we will be fully available for other tours. Thanks
