Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 39.60345944535243, -8.417620196770017

The Castle of Tomar, in Ribatejo, is located in the parish of Tomar (São João Baptista) and Santa Maria dos Olivais, in the city and municipality of Tomar, district of Santarém, in Portugal. It is part of the great architectural complex of the Convent of Christ.

Templar castle on the right bank of the river Nabão, integrated, at the time of the Reconquest, the so-called Linha do Tejo, along with others in the region that follow the style: those of Almourol, Idanha, Monsanto, Pombal and Zêzere.

Tomar Castle has been classified as a National Monument since 1910, and as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1983.

History

The medieval castle

As it became imperative to operate a fortification intended to complement the defensive line of access through Santarém to the then capital, Coimbra, after a year in the ruined Castelo de Cera, the Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal, D. Gualdim Pais, son of Paio Ramires, it was decided to build a new castle, in a more suitable location, which would become the headquarters of the Order in the country.

It is not known with certainty the reason that led to the option for Tomar, instead of the renovation of the castle of Cera. Some scholars claim that the new site, on a hill on the right bank of the River Tomar (now Nabão), dominating a plain, was strategically more advantageous. Others argue that the site was chosen considering its position on the line which, in relation to the Meridian of Paris, forms an angle of 34°, common in the Order's architectural projects, corresponding to the diagonal of the 2/3 ratio observed in the constellation of Gemini. , one of the Templar symbols.

In any case, the construction of the Castle of Tomar began on March 1, 1160, according to the epigraphic inscription on its walls. At the same time, the construction of the Charola began, later adapted to the main chapel, one of the most important Templar buildings in the West.

Faced with the commitment to promote the settlement of the region, D. Gualdim Pais granted the first charter to the term of Tomar in 1162, a document later confirmed in 1174. In 1165, the Order also received the domains of Idanha and Monsanto, being promised, in 1169, a third of the lands that they would conquer south of the Tagus River. The following year (1170), the so-called Linha do Tejo was reinforced with the construction of Almourol Castle.

Two decades later, under the reign of D. Sancho I (1185-1211), the counter-offensive of the Almohad Caliphate of 1190 under the command of the caliph Iakub Almançor, after reconquering the Castle of Silves and the Algarve, advanced to the North conquering , successively, the castles of Alcácer do Sal, Palmela and Almada (1190-1191). He then crossed the Tagus Line, surrounding Santarém, destroying Torres Novas and Abrantes until reaching Tomar, which, under successive assaults, held out for six days defended by the Templars, breaking the invader's momentum. On this occasion, the Moors forced the southern gate and penetrated the outer fence. The Templars' defense was so fierce that the assault gate became known as the Blood Gate.

Faced with the extinction of the Order by Pope Clement V (1312), King Dinis (1279-1325) safeguarded the possession of its assets in the kingdom. To better manage them, he created the Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1321), initially based in Castro Marim, in the Algarve, transferring the assets of the former Order to it. A few years later, however, the seat of the new order was transferred to Tomar (c. 1338).

Infante D. Henrique, as Governor of the Order of Christ, will have had residence in the Castle of Tomar. Subsequently, the castle was the object of the attention of D. Manuel (1495-1521) and D. João III (1521-1557) through restoration and reinforcement works, when the Convent of Christ was expanded. By order of the former, the intra-wall population was forced to move to the village, next to the river (1499); later, in the first half of the 16th century, the Paços da Rainha were expanded, developing the works in a northern direction, between Charola and Alcáçova.

From the 17th century to our days

Since then, information on this defensive complex has been scarce: in 1618, the Northwest tower was demolished to expand the entrance to the castle grounds, which has survived to this day in relatively good condition.

The village of Tomar was elevated to the category of city by charter of D. Maria II (1826-1828 and 1834-1853), on February 13, 1844.

The castle is classified as a National Monument by Decree published on June 23, 1910, and as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO General Assembly from June 27 to 30, 1983.

In 1973, restoration work was carried out on the floor of the battlement on the wall section between Porta do Sol and Torre da Rainha and, more recently, in 1986, work was carried out to consolidate the walls next to Porta do Sangue.

Characteristics

The castle features elements of military architecture in Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. Some authors point to the presence of vestiges indicative of an earlier military structure, which could date back to Roman times and which would have lasted until Islamic times, referring to the presence, on the apparatus of the walls, of some decorative plaques, of Visigothic or Mozarabic chronology, probably from the site of Santa Maria dos Olivais, on the left bank of the river Nabão.

It is composed of a double belt of walls, which delimited the primitive intramural village and the main square:

one on a higher plane, with an irregular polygonal plan, with some curved sides, starting next to the entrance to the Chapter House and ending at the Tower of Dona Catarina. It delimits the Alcáçova and maintains only the cistern and the Keep inside, a defensive figure introduced in Portugal by the Templars and which has its oldest testimony here; another in a lower plane, connecting the east façade of the Charola to the south zone da Alcáçova, which corresponded to the fortified village of the Late Middle Ages. It also features an irregular polygonal plan, developing in a wedge towards the east, ending in a large quadrangular tower, called Torre da Rainha. This belt incorporates another defensive element also introduced by the Templars in the country: the alambor. This consists of basing the walls on ramps, designed to prevent the approach of the assault towers and to make sap and mine work more difficult, as well as to eliminate blind spots at the base of the walls, having been used in Tomar encircling the entire wall.

These walls were reinforced at regular intervals by turrets of semi-circular and quadrangular plans, in the typology imported by the Templars from the East, who resorted to it in the Holy Land in the fortification of Saphyum, which followed the design of the Fortress of the Hospitaller Knights, in Hom.

Entering through Porta de Santiago and passing through Porta do Sol, on the right, you will see the Alcáçova and the Torre de Menagem. The terreiro that leads to Charola is then opened. To the southwest, another square, topped by the Torre de Dona Catarina. The wall continues, supported by turrets, up to Porta do Sangue and Torre da Condessa. To the North, there are other towers with plants in different shapes. After passing Charola, the Porta de São Martinho opens, bending the wall, always supported by towers and turrets, again towards the citadel.

Despite the multiple alterations that took place in the fortified enclosure over the centuries, most of them related to the successive enlargement campaigns of the Convent of Christ in the West sector, the castle's Romanesque elements are still numerous and significant. Among them, the Keep stands out, with a rectangular plan divided internally into three floors. On the second floor there is an inscription in Latin, repeated on the tombstone commemorating the Muslim siege of July 13, 1190 on the stairs leading to the Terreiro da Charola, informing the visitor:

In the era of 1198 (1160 of the era of Christ), reigning Afonso, the most illustrious king of Portugal, D. Gualdim, master of the Portuguese knights of the Temple, with his friars, began on the first day of March to build this castle, called Tomar , which, when finished, the king offered to God and to the Knights of the Temple.

Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 39.60345944535243, -8.417620196770017

The Castle of Tomar, in Ribatejo, is located in the parish of Tomar (São João Baptista) and Santa Maria dos Olivais, in the city and municipality of Tomar, district of Santarém, in Portugal. It is part of the great architectural complex of the Convent of Christ.

Templar castle on the right bank of the river Nabão, integrated, at the time of the Reconquest, the so-called Linha do Tejo, along with others in the region that follow the style: those of Almourol, Idanha, Monsanto, Pombal and Zêzere.

Tomar Castle has been classified as a National Monument since 1910, and as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1983.

History

The medieval castle

As it became imperative to operate a fortification intended to complement the defensive line of access through Santarém to the then capital, Coimbra, after a year in the ruined Castelo de Cera, the Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal, D. Gualdim Pais, son of Paio Ramires, it was decided to build a new castle, in a more suitable location, which would become the headquarters of the Order in the country.

It is not known with certainty the reason that led to the option for Tomar, instead of the renovation of the castle of Cera. Some scholars claim that the new site, on a hill on the right bank of the River Tomar (now Nabão), dominating a plain, was strategically more advantageous. Others argue that the site was chosen considering its position on the line which, in relation to the Meridian of Paris, forms an angle of 34°, common in the Order's architectural projects, corresponding to the diagonal of the 2/3 ratio observed in the constellation of Gemini. , one of the Templar symbols.

In any case, the construction of the Castle of Tomar began on March 1, 1160, according to the epigraphic inscription on its walls. At the same time, the construction of the Charola began, later adapted to the main chapel, one of the most important Templar buildings in the West.

Faced with the commitment to promote the settlement of the region, D. Gualdim Pais granted the first charter to the term of Tomar in 1162, a document later confirmed in 1174. In 1165, the Order also received the domains of Idanha and Monsanto, being promised, in 1169, a third of the lands that they would conquer south of the Tagus River. The following year (1170), the so-called Linha do Tejo was reinforced with the construction of Almourol Castle.

Two decades later, under the reign of D. Sancho I (1185-1211), the counter-offensive of the Almohad Caliphate of 1190 under the command of the caliph Iakub Almançor, after reconquering the Castle of Silves and the Algarve, advanced to the North conquering , successively, the castles of Alcácer do Sal, Palmela and Almada (1190-1191). He then crossed the Tagus Line, surrounding Santarém, destroying Torres Novas and Abrantes until reaching Tomar, which, under successive assaults, held out for six days defended by the Templars, breaking the invader's momentum. On this occasion, the Moors forced the southern gate and penetrated the outer fence. The Templars' defense was so fierce that the assault gate became known as the Blood Gate.

Faced with the extinction of the Order by Pope Clement V (1312), King Dinis (1279-1325) safeguarded the possession of its assets in the kingdom. To better manage them, he created the Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1321), initially based in Castro Marim, in the Algarve, transferring the assets of the former Order to it. A few years later, however, the seat of the new order was transferred to Tomar (c. 1338).

Infante D. Henrique, as Governor of the Order of Christ, will have had residence in the Castle of Tomar. Subsequently, the castle was the object of the attention of D. Manuel (1495-1521) and D. João III (1521-1557) through restoration and reinforcement works, when the Convent of Christ was expanded. By order of the former, the intra-wall population was forced to move to the village, next to the river (1499); later, in the first half of the 16th century, the Paços da Rainha were expanded, developing the works in a northern direction, between Charola and Alcáçova.

From the 17th century to our days

Since then, information on this defensive complex has been scarce: in 1618, the Northwest tower was demolished to expand the entrance to the castle grounds, which has survived to this day in relatively good condition.

The village of Tomar was elevated to the category of city by charter of D. Maria II (1826-1828 and 1834-1853), on February 13, 1844.

The castle is classified as a National Monument by Decree published on June 23, 1910, and as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO General Assembly from June 27 to 30, 1983.

In 1973, restoration work was carried out on the floor of the battlement on the wall section between Porta do Sol and Torre da Rainha and, more recently, in 1986, work was carried out to consolidate the walls next to Porta do Sangue.

Characteristics

The castle features elements of military architecture in Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. Some authors point to the presence of vestiges indicative of an earlier military structure, which could date back to Roman times and which would have lasted until Islamic times, referring to the presence, on the apparatus of the walls, of some decorative plaques, of Visigothic or Mozarabic chronology, probably from the site of Santa Maria dos Olivais, on the left bank of the river Nabão.

It is composed of a double belt of walls, which delimited the primitive intramural village and the main square:

one on a higher plane, with an irregular polygonal plan, with some curved sides, starting next to the entrance to the Chapter House and ending at the Tower of Dona Catarina. It delimits the Alcáçova and maintains only the cistern and the Keep inside, a defensive figure introduced in Portugal by the Templars and which has its oldest testimony here; another in a lower plane, connecting the east façade of the Charola to the south zone da Alcáçova, which corresponded to the fortified village of the Late Middle Ages. It also features an irregular polygonal plan, developing in a wedge towards the east, ending in a large quadrangular tower, called Torre da Rainha. This belt incorporates another defensive element also introduced by the Templars in the country: the alambor. This consists of basing the walls on ramps, designed to prevent the approach of the assault towers and to make sap and mine work more difficult, as well as to eliminate blind spots at the base of the walls, having been used in Tomar encircling the entire wall.

These walls were reinforced at regular intervals by turrets of semi-circular and quadrangular plans, in the typology imported by the Templars from the East, who resorted to it in the Holy Land in the fortification of Saphyum, which followed the design of the Fortress of the Hospitaller Knights, in Hom.

Entering through Porta de Santiago and passing through Porta do Sol, on the right, you will see the Alcáçova and the Torre de Menagem. The terreiro that leads to Charola is then opened. To the southwest, another square, topped by the Torre de Dona Catarina. The wall continues, supported by turrets, up to Porta do Sangue and Torre da Condessa. To the North, there are other towers with plants in different shapes. After passing Charola, the Porta de São Martinho opens, bending the wall, always supported by towers and turrets, again towards the citadel.

Despite the multiple alterations that took place in the fortified enclosure over the centuries, most of them related to the successive enlargement campaigns of the Convent of Christ in the West sector, the castle's Romanesque elements are still numerous and significant. Among them, the Keep stands out, with a rectangular plan divided internally into three floors. On the second floor there is an inscription in Latin, repeated on the tombstone commemorating the Muslim siege of July 13, 1190 on the stairs leading to the Terreiro da Charola, informing the visitor:

In the era of 1198 (1160 of the era of Christ), reigning Afonso, the most illustrious king of Portugal, D. Gualdim, master of the Portuguese knights of the Temple, with his friars, began on the first day of March to build this castle, called Tomar , which, when finished, the king offered to God and to the Knights of the Temple.