Private Templar Castles Tour to Tomar and Almourol Castle

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Avoid the stress of traveling by public transport or a shared tour and choose the comfort and safety in the company of your private guide who will pick you up at your hotel in a comfortable vehicle with the Clean & Safe Seal guarantee. Travel time from Lisbon to Tomar approximately 1h30 (140km)

   1.5 h

2. French King Philip IV owed money to the Order of the Templars. In 1307, bankrupt and fearing the influence of the Templars, he allied himself with Pope Clement V and began to persecute and arrest the Templars on false charges. In 1310, 54 Templars were burned alive in an auto-da-fe held in the public square in Paris. In 1317, only one kingdom acted against the Pope's will: Portugal! King Dom Dinis founds the Order of Christ and transfers all the assets of the Templars to the new Order. Portugal becomes a haven for Templars still alive and persecuted across Europe. The Convent of Christ, in Tomar, becomes the strongbox of secrets that the inquisition was unable to extract and the headquarters of the Order of Christ. The Order of Christ was the pillar that led the Portuguese to lead the great era of the Discoveries, perpetuating the Templar legacy You will visit the Castle of Tomar and the Convent of Christ which was the seat of the Order of the Templars and the Order of Christ.

   1 h

3. Considered one of the richest museum cities in Portugal, Tomar was donated in 1160 by the first king of Portugal, Dom Afonso Henriques, to the Templars, who years later started building the Castle. The Convent of Christ and the city are related to the organic path of the Nabao River that is part of the Cultural landscape of the Templar City of Tomar.

   1 h

4. Built on a small rocky island in the middle of the Tagus River, the Castle of Almourol is one of the most romantic and emblematic medieval monuments in Portugal for its meaning and the surrounding landscape. This defensive post was conquered by the Romans during the early days of Roman occupation in the Iberian Peninsula. After the Romans came the Alans, the Visigoths and the Moors and occupied the castle. The name Almourol was inherited from the Moors. It was reconquered by the Christians in 1129 and donated to Gualdim Pais, master of the Order of the Templars. Until 1311, the Castle of Almourol was in possession of the Templars, playing a vital role in the defensive line of the Tagus River. To reach the castle you need to make a short boat ride. Cross the Tagus River and enter the Castle. See the magnificent view of the landscape that goes far beyond the banks of the river. Do not be surprised if you find it surrounded by morning mists or dense fogs.

   1.5 h

5. After visiting the Castle of Almourol, you need a break to assimilate all the emotions felt during the visit. In front of the Castle there is a cafeteria with a terrace. Take a short break. Come in, sit down and ask for something you like to drink or eat. There, sitting on the terrace, your gaze looks for the small islet in the Tagus, and in the middle of it very close to you, rest your eyes on the enigmatic Castle of Almourol, one of the most beautiful medieval castles in the world.

   30 min

6. Before returning to Lisbon, visit Constancia, white village, with bloomed and narrow streets, arches, and viewpoints. Imagine a place where everything conspires in favor of Beauty! Known by Poem Village due to the popular tradition that the great Portuguese poet Luís de Camoes may have lived in a house by the Tagus River for some time and where he got inspired to write some of his works. Constancia is embraced by two beautiful rivers, the Zezere River that comes from the mountainous areas of the Beira region and the Tagus River that crosses the country coming from Spain. In addition to the riverside area you can climb the steps of the Pelourinho Square and wander the narrow, bloomed, and whitewashed streets that breathe history, crossing its arches and stop at the viewpoints overlooking the river.

   1.5 h

7. Now, it's time to return to Lisbon! You will arrive at your destination carrying the stories you heard through the testimony of your guide, the good mood you felt from the contact of the people from each location you visited and the emotions experienced during this wonderful day. We hope to see you again soon on another visit in Portugal. You will be able to choose a Drop-off location different from the pick up one, provided it is in Lisbon. See you soon!

   1.5 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Lisbon

• Its from-price is 97% above the median of the 4320 experiences we list in Lisbon.
• It is longer than most of them.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Lisbon

Lisbon spills down its hills to the Tagus estuary, a city of tiled façades, rattling yellow trams, viewpoint terraces and late, unhurried dinners.

The old quarters hold most of the charm. Alfama's tangle of lanes climbs to São Jorge Castle and echoes with fado in the evening, the Baixa's orderly grid runs down to the vast Praça do Comércio on the river, and Bairro Alto and Chiado mix bookshops and cafés by day with bars by night. Viewpoints such as Santa Luzia and Senhora do Monte frame red rooftops and shining water.

Top-ranked sights in Lisbon: Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio), Pena National Palace (Palacio Nacional da Pena), Alfama.

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