The Convent of Christ in Tomar

The Convent of Christ in Tomar is a unique attraction. It has many different aspects to it. It is a combination of a castle and a convent. It features rich architecture, religious history and aspects that showcase the cultural history of this area. On top of all that, it also is a site of the secretive Order of the Knights of Templar. A visit to this site makes for a great stop when in the Tomar area in Portugal.

The Secretive and Powerful Order

The Order of the Knights of Templar is a controversial, secretive society of warriors. The land where the Convent of Christ in Tomar stands is property of the Order of the Knights of Templar. The land was given to them for their help in protecting against the Moors. The order was built on the idea of friendship and the original intent of the order was to protect and guard secrets, including the Holy Grail. They were very spiritual and practiced meditation on a regular daily basis.

In the prime of the order, the Knights were extremely powerful. The order took an oath to live in poverty, but gifts and donations were often showered upon them and accepted openly. Such gifts and donations were used by the Knights to build on land that was usually given tot hem as gifts as well. Through all of the gifts and donations, the Knights became very wealthy and with that came power and dominance.

The Knights extreme strength and power was seen by King Philip IV of France as a threat. He accused them of heresy in 1307, which forced the Knights to give up all assets. During this time various members were tortured and admitted to many acts, including devil worshipping. Some believed these confessions, while others did not. This is just a part of the very interesting history of the Order of the Knights of Templar. Even though the original Order was dissolved, there were still Knights that remained and lived in secrecy. There are still members today.

The Buildings

The Convent of Christ in Tomar is an interesting structure. The castle was the original building, started in 1160, with the convent being added later. The castle is built much like a fortress. It is very massive in size and getting inside can be tricky if you happen to miss the rather small entrance door that is hidden away along the walls. Both the castle and the convent have great examples of various architecture styles, including Roman, Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance. The convent is a round structure that features round windows. It was modeled after the architecture styles of mosques in Jerusalem. The structure is listed on the World Heritage list of UNESCO.

Inside the convent you will be treated to many samples of art and painted walls and ceilings. It is a very rich feeling inside that will transport you back in time.

As you explore you will be sure to see the eight different and unique cloisters, along with the four stunning stairways that connect the buildings. The Claustro da Lavagem, which translates to Washing Cloister, was where the washing was done. This cloister is in a gothic style and was built around 1433. The Claustro do Cemiterio, the Cloister of the Cemetery, is the cemetery yard. It is gothic in style with twin columns and arches and tile decorated walls. The Claustro de Santa Barbara was built in the 16th century and features a perfect view of the famous Chapter House Window. The Claustro de D. Joao III was constructed from 1557 to 1591. It is a connection point between the dormitories and the church.

If you are looking for something rich, cultural, religious and that provides amazing examples of various artistic and architectural styles then the Convent of Christ in Tomar is the perfect place for you to visit. The convent has many stories to tell. As you walk through the outer walls to explore the castle and convent, the gardens, the cloisters and the other areas of this unique structure, you will take in the sense of the strong history and the importance that this structure once played in Portugal’s history.