About My Tour
The Knights Templar were a legendary order tasked with defending pilgrims on their way to the holy land. They weren’t only protectors, but also Tomar’s founding fathers. On this walking tour, you’ll delve into Tomar’s history and the fascinating figures who shaped this remarkable city.
The tour starts in the Republic Square, (Praça da República) where you’ll hear the story of Gualdim Pais, who founded Tomar in 1160 as a returning crusader. You’ll see the Church Santa Maria do Olival, the final resting place for many grand masters of the Templar, where I’ll share some of the order’s curious burial traditions.
You’ll enter the grounds of the Seven Hills National Forest, once the knights’ agricultural and recreational centre, where I’ll tell you how King Philip IV of France plotted the order’s gruesome demise and how the Portuguese Templars resisted. The tour ends at the Castelo de Tomar, where I’ll reveal how an ingenious defense helped the knights defeat Moorish invaders during a bloody siege.
Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:
• Find out how a miracle inspired Prince Afonso Henriques in 1139 before the Battle of Ourique, a pivotal moment in Portugal’s fight for independence
• Explore the Sinagoga de Tomar, the oldest synagogue in Portugal
• Pass the Infantaria 15, a street honoring a famed Tomar regiment active since 1641, and a spot on the Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail
• Wander through Parque do Mouchão’s enchanting landscape and find a still-turning Arabic waterwheel
• Pass Casa dos Cubos (House of Cubes) a former counting house for agricultural supplies, and now an arts hub with a photography school and gallery
Whether you’re a history buff, cultural explorer, or curious traveler, this 90-minute tour promises an unforgettable journey through one of Portugal’s most fascinating cities. Join me and let the echoes of knights, pilgrims, and saints guide your path through this historic city.
About Your Guide
I worked as an actor, writer and theatre producer in the U.K. for 30 years until I moved to Portugal in 2019. I travelled around Portugal looking for somewhere to live for two years in my motorhome. Then I found Tomar and I have been sharing the history of this marvellous city on my walking tour for the past year.
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