For four days every summer, Tomar travels back in time. The Festa Templária is the city’s most spectacular annual event — a full-scale medieval festival that brings the legendary Knights Templar back to life in the very streets and squares where their story began over 800 years ago.
The Knights Templar founded Tomar in 1160, making it their Portuguese headquarters and building the magnificent Convent of Christ that still crowns the hillside today. This deep historical bond is what makes the festival unlike anything else — this isn’t just a reenactment, it’s a homecoming.
Over four immersive days, the city transforms into a living medieval world. The centrepiece is the arena, where armoured knights clash in combat tournaments, falconers send their birds soaring overhead, and dancers perform to the beat of ancient rhythms. Across the city, Templar encampments and Saracen camps spring up along the banks of the Nabão, filled with craftsmen, merchants, and storytellers in period dress. A torture chamber, historical displays at Praça da República, and a themed children’s area complete the experience.
Entry to the Templar village enclosure costs just €3 per day, or €5 for a full four-day pass — remarkable value for one of Portugal’s most atmospheric festivals.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a family with curious children, or simply a lover of spectacle, the Festa Templária is an experience that will stay with you long after the torches go out.
