Step back in time and discover the remarkable history of Tomar, one of Portugal’s most historically significant cities. Founded in 1160 by Gualdim Pais, Grand Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal, Tomar quickly became the headquarters of the Templar Order and later the Order of Christ, playing a crucial role in shaping the country’s medieval history and the Age of Discovery. Today, its UNESCO-listed monuments, medieval streets, churches and archaeological sites tell the story of more than 2,000 years of human settlement, from Roman and Moorish influences to the Portuguese monarchy. Whether you’re fascinated by the Knights Templar, medieval architecture or Portugal’s royal history, our articles explore the people, places and events that made Tomar one of the nation’s most extraordinary historic destinations.
For thirty years the castle on the hill above the Nabão had never been tested. It had been built, garrisoned and expanded on the assumption that one day an army would come to take it back. In July 1190, one…
If there’s one event that transforms the city of Tomar into one of Portugal’s most extraordinary destinations, it’s the Festa dos Tabuleiros. Taking place only once every four years, this unique celebration fills the historic streets with music, flowers, tradition, and…
Nine hundred years ago, this was frontier land — the edge of a kingdom that didn’t fully exist yet, and the edge of a war that had already lasted a century. This is the story of the knight who looked…