About this experience
Uncover the mystique of the Knights Templar by following their trail on this private Tour with a private guided from Lisbon.
Feel the impact this famous religious group made while visiting the majestic city of Tomar.
Along the trail of this Christian force you will admire Almourol castle and see the Tomar Castle
Enjoy learning how the Knights Templar influenced Europe and the Middle East on this informative journey.
Numbers are limited on this tour to eight people for a more personalized experience.
At a glance
- Duration: 8 hr
- Private experience
Plan your experience
Set aside 8 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What is included
- The guides accompany the visit inside the monuments
- Professional guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Good mood and fun
- Tour Guide
- Hotel / apartment pickup and drop-off (If in lisbon)
Not included
- Lunch
- Meals and entrance to Monuments
Itinerary and highlights
Tomar, a Templar City
Former seat of the Order of the Knights Templar, Tomar is a city of great charm for its artistic and cultural wealth, whose greatest expression is in the Convent of Christ, one of the chief works of the Portuguese Renaissance.
Originally designed as a monument symbolizing the Reconquest, the Convent of the Knights Templar of Tomar (transferred in 1344 to the Knights of the Order of Christ) came to symbolize just the opposite during the Manueline period – the opening up of Portugal to other civilizations.
In the middle of the River Tagus, the enigmatic Almourol Castle is one of the most emblematic monuments of the Christian reconquest.
Situated on an island in the middle of the River Tagus, Almourol is one of the most distinctive castles in Portugal, because of its historical significance and surrounding landscape.
Its history reminds us of the Reconquest of the Portuguese territory during the Middle Ages. When the Christians arrived here in 1129, the castle already existed under the name of Almorolan, having been incorporated immediately afterwards into the land that was placed under the protection of the Knights Templar, whose Master at that time was Gualdim Pais. According to an inscription at the entrance to the castle, its reconstruction work began in 1171.
Tomar is born from the donation by King Afonso Henriques in 1159 of the Ceras Castle to the Knights Templar. The territory was crossed in the south by the Tomar river - with its fertile valley to the west with very step foothills. It was in one of those foothills that Master D. Gualdim Pais, founded, in 1160, the Tomar castle and village.
The castle was built on a belt of walls surrounding the edifice. Within it, two curtains of walls divided the area into three different spaces. In the southern part of the fortress one could find the villa space - today is where the orange grove sits. On the highest part of the foothill, to the north, the Templar military house was set, flanked to the west by the Master´s house - the Alcáçova with its tower and to the east the knights´oratorium - the Charola. These two spaces were separated by the vast yard of the castle - today a gardened space.
Meeting and pickup information
- Pickup at your hotel or accommodation in Lisbon You must contact Celina Tours at least 24 hours before your Tour date to inform us your address in Lisbon for the Pickup. Use the contact details on your confirmation/voucher. Pickups in areas like: Alfama, Bairro Alto and Baixa de Lisboa, or with difficulty of access of the car we will mark a meeting point for the Pickup Drop off at your Hotel or Accommodation in Lisbon
Languages and tickets
- Portuguese — Guide
- English — Guide
- French — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Celina Tours
Accessibility and practical details
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Questions about this experience
How long is this experience?
What are the pickup arrangements?
You must contact Celina Tours at least 24 hours before your Tour date to inform us your address in Lisbon for the Pickup. Use the contact details on your confirmation/voucher.
Pickups in areas like: Alfama, Bairro Alto and Baixa de Lisboa, or with difficulty of access of the car we will mark a meeting point for the Pickup
Drop off at your Hotel or Accommodation in Lisbon
Which guide languages are listed?
What ticket format is listed?
What ticket age bands are listed?
What is the cancellation policy?
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