Tomar city, Portugal. Open the left menu tomar. Safety. What to watch out for

Between the two rivers Tagus and Mondegu, in the 12th century, the Knights Templar built a fortress. Soon, a city bearing the name Tomar soon grew around its walls. Over the following centuries, the order grew and gained increasing influence and power.

This state of affairs did not suit the church, and in 1312 Pope Clement V dissolved the Templars, accusing them of heresy. Four years later, the order was reorganized by the King of Portugal and became known as the "Order of Christ".

In the 16th century the fortress turned into a magnificent knight's castle. The town of Tomar, with its unique history of medieval chivalry, is definitely worth a visit. This place has preserved a large number of architectural monuments, one way or another connected with the Templars and the “Order of Christ”. Wander through the small streets of the Portuguese town of Tomar and feel ancient spirit the Knights Templar who once roamed these paths.

The monastery was built over five centuries, starting in 1160. This truly majestic structure is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was originally built as a fortress, but later it was converted into a monastery. Great warrior monks lived within its walls.

The most ancient building in the monastery complex is considered to be a round church, built like the “dome of the Rock” of Solomon’s Temple. The castle walls are surrounded by a romantic park with secluded places hidden behind wide tree branches. This monastery is one of the most beautiful works of architectural art of the Middle Ages and deserves a visit.

Location: Colina do Castelo.

A landmark located on the territory of the Tomara fortress, or rather, on one of its naves, deserves special attention - the elegant Tomara window. Why does it attract tourists from all over the world so much? With its skillfully carved oak frames, creating a marine pattern. The crown of the head is crowned with the cross of the Order of Christ.

Another element of the ensemble is an unusual sculpture of a head, which many consider to be a self-portrait of the sculptor of this design. Many countries considered this window a real, unique work of art of the 19th century. Even England was ready to write off Portugal’s entire debt free of charge, just because of the beauty of the Tomar Window.

In 1624, King Philip III ordered the construction of the Church of San Francisco, which attracts many tourists every year. The portal of the building is made in the Mannerist style characteristic of that century. Many elements of the church are decorated in gilding and decorated with decorative paintings. The building has many graceful stone columns and arches.

The most interesting attraction of San Francisco is the Match Museum located within its walls. More than 40 thousand matchboxes from all over the world. The collection of this museum is recognized as the largest in all of Europe.

A unique decoration of the city is the Church of Sant Joan Batista (XV century). It combines two styles: Gothic and, recognized as Portuguese folk, Manueline style. Since the 15th century was the era of the emergence of Portugal as a maritime power, the church contains many elements of a maritime theme. The walls of the temple are decorated with the famous panels “The Last Supper” and “The Beheading of John the Baptist”. In 1910, the Church of Sant Joan Batista was recognized as one of the country's national monuments.

In the 13th century, when Tomar was ruled by the Knights Templar, the city's first Gothic church was built. At that time, burial processions of members of the order were held here. Later the church became the resting place of the knights of the Order of Christ.

Unfortunately, the building has undergone multiple reconstructions, but in general it has retained its original appearance. At the altar there is a majestic statue of the Virgin Mary. What distinguishes it from other churches in the city is the presence of an interesting window above the entrance, made in the shape of a flower.

The castle was built by Master Gualdim Pais in 1160. It became an ideal defensive fortification of the time. In the 14th century, when the order was abolished, many buildings that belonged to the Templars were destroyed in the country. However, the king of Portugal was favorable to this place and ordered only to rename the order to the “Order of Christ”.

Over time, the castle turned into a real temple. The place was landscaped, paths were laid, neat flower beds were planted. The complex combines several styles. The extensions are made in Gothic and Baroque style. The main temple, located on a hill, looks like a ship.

In the vicinity of Tomar there is another monument from the list of national treasures of the country - the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceicao. The construction of this small chapel took 35 years. It was intended as the resting place of King João III of Portugal, who reigned in the 16th century. The building was built in traditional Italian style. The walls inside the building are absolutely smooth, the ceiling and windows are decorated with floral patterns.

Another interesting attraction of the 15th century. can be considered the Synagogue - the only Jewish building in Portugal during the Proto-Renaissance era. You can find it in the Jewish quarter, which is located in the very center of Tomar. The synagogue is a kind of gift to the Jewish people from Prince Henry for the financial assistance they provided in organizing a sea expedition.

Unfortunately, this building did not serve as a synagogue for long. After the expulsion of the Jewish people from Portugal, the building served for some time as a prison. A few years later a church appeared here. Then the premises were converted into a warehouse. In 1939, the Jewish Museum named after Abraham Zukutu was opened here, which now displays exhibits telling visitors about the history of the people. There is even a tombstone from 1308.

Location: R. Dr. Joaquim Jacinto - 73.

Not far from the city there is an Aqueduct, built to supply the monastery of the Order of Christ with water. The construction of this huge structure began in the 16th century and ended in the 17th century. The aqueduct is considered a monument to the times of Spanish-Portuguese unity. This is the time when King Philip II seized the Portuguese crown and united the lands under his rule. The length of the aqueduct is 6 km. It consists of 180 arches. The height of the arches varies in different areas. The highest place reaches 30 m. If you wish, you can calmly stroll along the aqueduct and admire this majestic work of art up close.

Tomar is a picturesque town located 140 kilometers from the capital of Portugal, in the center of the country, on the banks of the Naban River. The city is famous for its unique history, which is told not only in school textbooks, but also in literary novels.
This is the city of the tragically dead Templars. The city is a mystery, fraught with many legends, one of which is about hidden treasures in the castle. A city where every stone silently conceals the drama of past years.

The history of the city of Tomar began back in the 12th century, when the Templars helped expel the Moors from Portuguese lands and received a piece of land between the Mondego and Tagus rivers in gratitude. It was on this land that the Templars created a powerful fortress, around which the city of Tomar gradually began to be built. By the way, the first legend associated with this city says that the hill on which the city began to be created was indicated by a sacred vision.

Gualdin Pais, the first greatest master of the famous Knights Templar, became the founder of the castle, which after some time acquired the status of the residence of the master. The headquarters for all Portuguese Templars was located in the same residence. The Templar Order began to rapidly flourish. His wealth and power irritated high-ranking officials of the Church, and an insidious moment came when Pope Clement V brought a cruel accusation of heresy against the knights of the order. Mass arrests and trials began in the Templar case. The Order was officially disbanded, and a terrible fate awaited the unfortunate Templars. Some of the Templars were tortured to death. Some people were burned. Someone was sentenced to various prison terms, including life sentences, and some people ended their lives eking out a miserable existence in monasteries. Thus, the great Templars were destroyed.

Despite the fact that the Templars were wiped off the face of the earth, the fruits of their labors are preserved to this day. The Portuguese king Dinis I quickly responded to the actions of Pope Clement V and created a new Order of Christ, to which all the treasures of the Templars, including lands and castles, were transferred.

Templar castle has an impressive appearance. Seven covered galleries carefully surround the castle, on the territory of which a high rotunda church, reminiscent of a pyramid, was erected. Inside the church are magnificent works of art: sculptures, paintings and frescoes, carefully restored after destruction by time.

Also on the territory of the fortress a beautiful monastery of the Order of Christ, the highlight of which are three unusual windows with romantic ocean motifs in the Manueline style (windows of the main façade of the Chapter House). Marine motifs are dedicated to the great era of geographical discoveries. Algae stretching upward, bizarrely shaped corals, tangled tight ship ropes, symbols of the royal court and a captivating cross symbolizing the Order of Christ - all this creates an indescribable impression. Be sure to check them out with your kids.

The monastery has a designated area for a Gothic monastery cemetery. Many historical religious figures from past times are buried here. The place is imbued with a mixture of grief and philosophical reflections on mortality human existence. The Templar Castle of Tomar and the Monastery of the Order of Christ are listed World Heritage UNESCO.

In general, expect that you will devote the lion's share of the time of your walk to exploring these main attractions of Tomar, and you will not be bored.

What else to see:
Once in the historical center of Tomar, you should definitely stroll through its medieval narrow streets, imbued with the unique flavor of past years. You can’t help but see mysterious figures wrapped in dark cloaks. The legend about the fabulous treasures the Templars managed to hide comes to mind. Perhaps treasures can be found in the web of these graceful streets...

The main city church of John the Baptist ( Sau Joao Batista), built in the 15th century. decorated with elements, of course, in the Manueline style. Connoisseurs highlight its amazing portal and octagonal bell tower.
In the square in front of it (the square has a charming checkerboard pattern) stands a monument to the Grand Master Gualdín Pais.

Not far away, in the very heart of the city, is the oldest Portuguese synagogue (Rua Joaquim Jacinto, 73). It was discovered in 1430-1460. Today it houses an amazing Abraham Zakutu Jewish Museum, inside of which you can see ancient Jewish tombstones and many sacred objects donated to the museum by Jewish communities from all over the globe.

If you decide to relax, go down to the Naban River, where there is a recreation park.

Tomar has its own personal Festas dos Tabuleiros holiday(1st week of July). Once every four years, a fantastic festival begins, during which women carry wonderful flowers on their heads and exude a rich aroma of bread. During the spectacular procession, musicians play their instruments to their hearts while the azure skies light up with colorful fireworks. A day after the procession, blessed bread and wine are distributed to everyone.

Tomar gives you the opportunity to travel back in time, and this journey will forever remain in your memory, evoking a viscous nostalgia for the mysterious city. Try to convey this sentiment to your schoolchild.
The former patrimony of the Templars will unobtrusively invite you to reflect on the events of the past. It would seem that there had been a strong bolt on the doors with secrets for a long time, but finding ourselves in the place where the most important events unfolded historical events, you feel that a ray of truth is about to shine through. And the mystery of the treasures hidden by the templars unbearably torments curious minds, causing the most entertaining guesses.

Tomar city – how to get there

Of course, the most convenient way is by car. Free parking can be found even in the center, near the monastery.
The train leaves from Oriente Station and the journey will take you approximately 2 hours.

Tomar appeared at the end of the 12th century on the ruins of two pre-existing ancient Roman cities. Tomar owes its appearance to the Templars - the city began to grow around the Templar fortress founded in 1160, which almost immediately became their main residence in Portugal. Later the order was dissolved and the monastery became the seat of the newly formed Order of Christ. This fortress, or more precisely, the monastery, is the main attraction of this region. The most interesting thing is that main value monastery is an ordinary window, if you can call it that... So, my last story from the Portuguese cycle - about the monastery of the Order of Christ.

First we walked around the city itself. In the central square stands the Church of St. John the Baptist, built at the end of the 15th century.

My attention was drawn to the clock located on the bell tower of the tower.

Then we decided to have a quick bite at one of the restaurants, and spent two, if not three, hours there...

Have I already told you about portions in Portuguese restaurants? So, if I say that they are huge, then I will not say anything. Towards the end of the trip, I more or less got the hang of it and began ordering half a portion for myself. But the “half” brought in the Tomar restaurant still turned out to be much more than my stomach could accommodate. I probably spent at least an hour trying to stuff a huge duck into myself, which was served with two huge dishes as a side dish - one with rice, the other with potatoes.

In general, Annuir and I, with great difficulty, holding our full bellies with our hands, crawled out of the restaurant a couple of hours later and hobbled upstairs to the monastery of the Order of Christ. While we were having lunch, the monastery had almost closed - we were its last visitors. We had exactly 40 minutes to explore... Considering that the monastery is a real labyrinth of many rooms, this was definitely not enough.

As I said above, the monastery was founded at the end of the 12th century. In those days, it played an important fortification role, providing protection for the young Portuguese state from the Moors, who had by that time been driven to the south.

The main building of the monastery is a round church - a rotunda. Many of the churches built by the Templars at this time had exactly this form - the first crusaders mistakenly mistook the Dome of the Rock for the remains ancient temple Solomon, therefore, ironically, their Christian churches they built in the image and likeness of a Muslim shrine...

Interiors of the monastery. I have nothing to tell you here - I can only show you.

While I’m showing it, I’ll tell you about the Templars.

Portugal was the first country to Western Europe, where the Templars settled. Their order was dissolved in 1312 by Pope Clement V. For Portugal, this event was a heavy blow - the Portuguese monarchs really hoped for the help of the Templars in the wars with the Moors.

Therefore, just a few years later, a new brotherhood was formed - the Order of Christ, which became the de facto successor to the Templar Order in Portugal.

In fact, everything except the name remained the same - all the lands and wealth of the Templars were transferred to the order.

The Order of Christ played one of the main roles during the Age of Discovery. Not only that, one of the Grand Masters of the Order of Christ was Henry the Navigator, who laid the foundation for Portuguese expansion to the south and west. All Portuguese discoverers, including Vasco da Gama, made their voyages precisely under the flag of the Order of Christ.

A view of the church from a different angle - in my opinion, it looks much more interesting from this side.

The church was built in the Manueline style, I already wrote about Belem in my article.

In the western wall of the church there is a large rectangular window surmounted by the cross of the order. This window is known throughout the world - its frames carved in the shape of cork oak leaves are considered architectural masterpiece style.

In the 19th century, the British were ready to exchange this window for an obligation to repay Portugal's entire foreign debt.

That's all we managed to see in Tomar. Next was long road to Lisbon. Since we had been very lucky with the weather in all the previous days, on the last day the heavens decided to take revenge and rained down some kind of unrealistic rain on us. I had to feel my way along the autobahn at a speed close to turtles...

The next day, early in the morning, we returned the Fiat back to Sixt, and the next day we returned home to dank St. Petersburg, which was just beginning to wake up from the snowy winter.

Journey into the old days

Anatoly Maslyakov, who together with his “St. Petersburg friend Vovka” explored the Tomar Castle along, across and diagonally, will tell and show us about his impressions...

One of the most famous Templar castles is located in the Portuguese city of Tomar.

“What does the Templars have to do with it?” - I thought. All their riddles and answers are in France. Somehow Portugal didn’t fit in with the Templars. “They are luring me,” I said to myself and began to read. I didn’t find anything special until I reached Tomar. Oh, here it is - the Portuguese king kept the secret of the persecuted Templars in his country! Unlike the ungrateful French king Philip IV, who coveted the wealth of the order and destroyed it, although the Templars saved him more than once, including from an angry Parisian crowd, the Portuguese king Dinis I did not forget the services of the Templars to the Portuguese crown and gave them shelter in his country, wisely renaming the Templars the Order of Christ.

True, this castle is not entirely Templar, or not only Templar. Tomar Castle (Convento de Cristo) was built around 1160 and was the main stronghold of the Templars in Portugal. The castle was besieged by the Moors, but to no avail.

Rock! However, with the dissolution of the Templar Order in 1312, for a moment, the fate of the castle hung up a little, like all the other possessions of the Templars. But the enterprising Portuguese monarch Dinis took the initiative and created the Order of Christ! And moreover, he persuaded the Pope to transfer the Templar possessions to this new order, which included the former Templars who were left idle. Quite soon (1357) Tomar Castle was chosen as the main stronghold of the Order of Christ. Later it was converted into a monastery, and today it is a UNESCO cultural heritage site. The architecture there is incredibly beautiful.

I, together with my St. Petersburg friend Vovka, spent the whole day in the Tomar castle (and at the same time in Tomar) on the road from Porto to Lisbon. The town itself is very tiny, so cute, European. One sad thing - until big water quite far. There is a river in the city, but it’s kind of unconvincing. Tomar Castle is, naturally, the main attraction of Tomar, but on the way from the railway station to the castle you can taxi to a couple of other pleasant places. Something like: a church, a park, a cemetery...

And then we reached the castle grounds. And then we got lost in three pines and turned onto the wrong path. I don’t regret it, because the path went through the park and along the castle walls. There was no one there. Wonderful place!

True, we, having distinguished ourselves with special intelligence, noticed that something was wrong only after an hour. Accordingly, it took another hour to get back to the treasured fork with a turnoff to the castle. My legs were already buzzing...

But then we saw a castle...Oh, how I love castles! Especially outside. Alas, inside they are not at all what I would like them to be. There is no spirit of the Middle Ages there. Half of all the castles were inhabited almost until today - and accordingly the design of the interior apartments changed taking into account fashion - porcelain figurines, stoves on graceful legs... Ugh! And the second half worse than that: whitewashed and completely uninteresting - Dracula's castle, yeah!

But we really want to get inside and we go there, walk along the sidelines, examine all the stairs and nooks and crannies, the monks’ cells, halls and passages.

The climate has painted it... But you can’t spoil the beauty.

Templars. And they look great, despite their age...

These stairs are amazing. You have to be able to design and implement something like this! The question arises - why bother so much? I think not only for the sake of beauty. It seems that this is a symbol, a reminder to the monks of the spiral galaxies of the Universe.

Did the monks know about the Fibonacci number and the golden ratio? The architects knew for sure. And the best mathematicians served under the Portuguese kings - Arabs and Jews. One of them, Abraham Zakutu, improved astronomical tables so that it became possible to determine the latitude of a place without using the solar meridian. He also designed a metal astrolabe, more accurate than a wooden one.

We find the famous rectangular window in the Manueline style, the so-called “janella”: not much more than a simple vent, its opening was plastered on all sides with sea and underwater souvenirs, seaweed, shells, anchors, brams and moorings - in glorification of the achievements of the local knights in the field of ocean navigation. On the sides of the window, on what looked like a decorative band encircling the window pylons, I saw the carved signs of the Garter. How can there be a symbol of an English order in a Portuguese one? military fortress? The guide did not know what to answer, but after a while, guiding us along the opposite wing, it seems to be the northeastern one, he discovered and showed us the signs of the Golden Fleece. I could not help but think about the subtle play of correspondences that unite the Garter with the Fleece, the Fleece with the Argonauts, the Argonauts with the Grail, the Grail with the Templars. I recalled the ravings of Colonel Ardenti, and some pages from the writings of the possessed... And I jumped straight up when the Portuguese guide led us into a hall with a vaulted ceiling dotted with rosettes. A bearded, goat-like face looked out from a good half of the sockets.

There is something demonic about this. Baphomet!!! Well, not necessarily him, but such decorations were in the consistory of the order.

The window is crowned with the royal symbol of Manuel I, the armillary sphere and the cross, the symbol of the Order of Christ. What secret is hidden in it? We haven't figured it out. Everyone writes about his beauty. But it seems to me that the problem here is in the encrypted symbols. We had a group of Russian tourists in the monastery, to whom the guide talked for a long time about the symbolism of the window. And everything is in the plane of wealth and trade. Here they say the artichoke is a symbol of wealth, this bag of salt is the main income of that time, here the rope is a symbol of sea voyages, thanks to which the Portuguese crown grew rich with the help of the knights of the Order of Christ, etc. Kinda boring.

The roots and branches of the cork oak tree are believed to support the bust of the captain and wrap around the masts. But why should there be a cork oak at the base? I prefer the version that this is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or the world tree.

I saw and heard a phrase somewhere, for which I later looked for an explanation and confirmation on the Internet, but to no avail - they say, either the British or the Spanish king was ready to forgive Portugal all its debt for this window. How all this was supposed to happen, and whether it was all true - alas, it was not possible to find out. Tell me if anyone knows.

Maybe because of this belt? It is believed to be the symbol of the British Order of the Garter. Why would the monks of the Order of Christ begin to depict here the symbol of the secular Order of the Garter, founded by the English king? The order is not monastic, it is very intimate - it includes only 24 members (approved by the king) in addition to members of the English royal house and other royal houses of Europe. By the way that's it Russian emperors, starting with Alexander I, were Knights of the Order of the Garter.

By that time, England had already entered into a trade alliance with Portugal. Perhaps thus the Order of Christ, so closely associated with the Portuguese kings and their naval commercial affairs, decided to cement “brotherly ties” with the English crown? It is also believed that the chain that surrounds the window is a symbol of the Order of the Golden Fleece. This is another secular order of Europe, founded in 1430 by Philip III the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Thanks to the Dukes of Burgundy for their role in the creation of Portugal?

The role of Burgundy in the emergence of the Portuguese Kingdom on the map of Europe surprised me. Look how far the dukes have gone! In the 11th century, Henry of Burgundy simply helped the king of Castile in the fight against the Moors with the help of the crusaders (read Templars). The grateful Castilian king gave him his daughter Teresa as a wife and the County of Portucale as a dowry. And how did the Burgundian son-in-law behave? As soon as the king died, Henry refused to recognize the authority of the Castilian crown and waged war against Castile. As it is now customary to say, he “squeezed out” Portucale without a twinge of conscience.

And although Teresa (her father’s faithful daughter) during her regency under her minor son Afonso Enriques (that is, Henryovich) wanted to return to Castile, the son opposed his mother, defeated her troops, expelled her from the country and began to rule alone. To be honest, this history of the formation of the Kingdom of Portugal seems somewhat unpleasant to me. And the role of the Burgundians in it too.

What remains of the Templars in the monastery? Of course Charolas, also known as the Rotunda of the Templars.

The Charola Church is a tall sixteen-sided tower, divided by buttresses, with loophole windows. It is believed that the shape of the altar repeats in plan the forty-meter-diameter cuvuklium of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, but also resembles the shape of Qubbat al-Sakhr on the site of the Temple of Solomon.

This is truly a real alchemical vessel, having a crystalline structure for the transformation of the human spirit. Here you can feel the spirit of the Templars, not only warriors and traders, but also alchemists, keepers of the secret magical knowledge of the East.

From the outside, the Rotunda looks very menacing, but inside it is a real masterpiece. The Templars knew how to pay real masters, so they tried. It’s all pure symbolism - it’s up to the experts to figure it out. And ordinary tourists, like me, just walk around with their mouths open and admire the sophistication and beauty.

The history of the city of Tomara in Portugal is closely connected with the famous Knights Templar. After the expulsion of the Moors from the territory of Portugal, in which the Templars accepted Active participation, the order was granted land between the Mondego and Tagus rivers. It was here that the modern city of Tomar grew up. First a castle was built, and then a settlement arose around it. The founder of the luxurious residence was Gualdin Pais, the first Master of the Order in Portugal.

Currently, visiting Tomar is a great opportunity touch the history of chivalry, the Templars and the Order of Christ. A small town an hour and a half drive from Lisbon is proud of its unique architectural monuments preserved from the Middle Ages, and every autumn you can visit a large fair dedicated to Saint Iria, the patroness of Tomar.

Historical part of the city

The picturesque city is located on the banks of the Naban River. The settlement was formed around the castle, which was built by the Templars on one of the hills. Gradually, the buildings around expanded, and today the rich historical past of Tomar (Portugal) is reminded by the Charola Church, which was built a few years after the construction of the fortress walls.

This is a majestic building, the architecture of which is not typical for the Middle Ages. The example of a sixteen-sided tower was the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The halls of the religious building are decorated with mesmerizing hand painting and gilding.

The central street of the city is considered a historical district. Narrow streets, characteristic of Portugal, diverge around. Just stroll through them to find interesting workshops and small cozy coffee shops where you can stop to wait out the rain (the weather is often cloudy). The main shopping street is Rua Serpa Pinto. This is a paradise for shopaholics. On Rua Serpa Pinto you can find the best shops offering branded clothing, luxury perfumes and Jewelry.

Church of Sant Joan Batista

Through narrow streets from the main square you can reach the church, which was erected in the fifteenth century on behalf of King Manuel I the Happy. The building is a real architectural decoration of the city of Tomara (Portugal). Reviews from tourists confirm that it’s enough to just admire it while walking nearby, but history or architecture buffs will find it even more interesting here.

The interior of the building combines elements of the Portuguese Renaissance and Gothic. These solutions are better known under the name “Manueline” - this is a folk movement in the art of medieval Portugal. The portal is made in greek style, and the columns are decorated with bulky capitals. The church was built during a period of unprecedented power and prosperity of the country, the emergence of Portugal as a powerful maritime state, as can be seen from general appearance attractions.

The Church of São João Batista is luxury itself, but its main asset is the collection of panels by Gregorio Lopes, a famous Renaissance artist. The central aisle is decorated with the paintings “The Beheading of John the Baptist” and “The Last Supper.” The gilded altar with Baroque elements looks very rich. In 1910, this attraction was recognized as a monument of national importance, so it has always attracted tourists.

Castle of the Knights Templar in Tomar

Today, the Convento de Cristo monastery (also known as Tomar Castle in Portugal) is included in the UNESCO heritage list, being one of the most majestic buildings. Tomar was the main castle and part of the defense system that protected the kingdom from the south. The landmark has survived five centuries of construction and has repeatedly become a victim of destruction. In 1810, for example, Napoleon's troops turned the amazingly beautiful monastery into almost ruins.

History of the Convento de Cristo Monastery

At the beginning of the eleventh century, the spiritual-knightly Order of Knights was founded to protect pilgrims heading to the Holy Land. Two centuries later, this organization became one of the most powerful and richest, laying the foundation for the modern financial system. The Templar Order was crushed by one of its largest debtors, Philip the Fair. Pope Clement V, also in debt a large sum, did not particularly interfere with this.

The massacre of the Templars was clearly organized and thought out. The top brass were subjected to a public trial. The order's lawyers built an ideal line of defense, but in the Dark Middle Ages this was not appreciated - the Templars were tortured and burned at the stake. The main question remains: where is the money? Not a lot of jewelry was found in the captured possessions. There are many versions according to which those who survived fled either to Great Britain, or to the then undiscovered America, or to the mysterious Atlantis. One version points to Portugal.

Everything leads to the Templar castle in Tomar was founded by representatives of the order in the mid-twelfth century, and after the execution of the top it became the main residence of the Order of Christ - an organization that received all the lands and possessions that previously belonged to the Templars. It must be said that the symbols and regulations clearly resembled the symbols and regulations of the order, and in finance the knights were no less successful than their predecessors.

Some architectural features

Today, the architecture of this landmark in Tomar (Portugal) is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline styles. The novelties introduced by the Templars were round fortress towers, which turned out to be more effective in the defense process than square ones, as well as a citadel with a donjon. The rotunda church was built on the model of a mosque in Jerusalem, which (according to the Templars themselves) was a remnant of Solomon's Temple. Another possible example is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem as it was before perestroika at the beginning of the century before last.

During the reign of Henry the Navigator, a Gothic nave was added to the church, connected to the main interior by a large arch. The nave was reconstructed by order of Manuel I. Thus, it combined the features of the late Gothic style and the Renaissance. This movement was called “Manueline”. The Gothic cloister, also built under Henry the Navigator, served as a necropolis for monks and knights of the order. Diogo da Gama, the brother of the navigator Vasco da Gama, and many other famous historical figures are buried there.

Abraham Zakutu Museum in the Synagogue

Synagogue on Rua Dr. Joaquim Jacinto was built at the beginning of the fifteenth century, making this landmark in the city of Tomara in Portugal one of the oldest. Judging by the reviews, the museum amazes tourists. Currently, the Jewish prayer house has been converted into a museum named after the famous astronomer and mathematician Abraham Zakutu. In general, throughout its history, the religious site was used as a synagogue for only fifty years. Once it was a prison, then a Christian chapel, a hayloft and a warehouse.

Church of São Francisco in Tomar

The landmark was erected in the first third of the seventeenth century by order of King Philip III in Tomar, Portugal. Photos of the church show that the pediment and portal of the building are designed in the mannerist style characteristic of that era. In general, the façade looks rather modest. A hairdryer, connected to the structure by round arches, leads to the central hall. Visitors are fascinated by the gilding, stone columns and arches, and decorative paintings. The Church of São Francisco attracts tourists not only for its history and architecture - one of the galleries houses the Museum of Matches. The collection numbers more than forty-three thousand boxes from different countries peace. This collection is considered the largest in Europe.

Church of Santa Maria do Olival

This church of Tomar (Portugal) was built in the thirteenth century. Compared to other buildings, this attraction looks very miniature, but tourists still like it, judging by the reviews. Numerous reconstructions did not prevent the church of Santa Maria do Olival from carrying through the centuries some of the characteristic features of its time. Home architectural feature The building is a beautiful window above the main entrance, and the main value is the statue of the Virgin Mary, which appeared here during the Middle Ages.

Monastery of Saint Iria in Tomar

The attraction was built in the first half of the sixteenth century, but after a while the monastery was reconstructed by Joa de Castillo, who was in charge of the monastery of the Order of Christ. The monastery and church were built on the site of an old religious building that dates back to the seventh century. The old building stood on the spot where Iria (Irina Tomarskaya) was left to die. This saint is considered the patroness of the city. Every autumn in Tomar, for example, a fair is held. At first the event was held only here, but later the tradition expanded throughout Portugal.

Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição

In the immediate vicinity of Tomar (Portugal) you can visit a chapel, which is considered a monument of national importance. The building is very small, but thirty-five years were spent on its construction and decoration. The chapel was originally built as a tomb for John III, who ruled Portugal in the sixteenth century. Today this building is considered architectural example classic Italian style. The interior walls are completely smooth, the main decorations are graceful window openings with floral patterns and hand-painted ceilings.

Ancient aqueduct in the surrounding area

In the immediate vicinity of the city, the ancient aqueduct with the help of which the Templar castle in Tomar (Portugal) was supplied with fresh water has also been preserved in good condition. Construction began in the sixteenth century and lasted for almost a century. The aqueduct has almost two hundred arches and has a considerable length - about six thousand meters. This attraction is located in a picturesque area that is great for walking.