I was sad to leave Flor da Rosa.
Our destination was Tomar, where I wanted to visit The Convent of the Order of Christ. The Castle of the Knights Templar of Tomar was built by Gualdim Pais, the 4th Grand Master of the Order in Portugal in c.1160 and became the headquarters of the Order in Portugal. When the Knights Templar were dissolved the assets were transferred to The Order of Christ (effectively the same organisation under a new name) which established headquarters in Tomar in 1358. In 1417 Henry the Navigator became Grand Master of the Order.
The Church is breathtaking. The round church was built in the mid 12C, inspired by the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem, with later additions including an extraordinary, ornate doorway.
Inside the church the Octagon, the original Templar Church, is richly decorated and ornamented and set aside from the body of the Church with an archway.
I would have loved more time to photograph the details in the Chapter House window but I did manage the odd little face at the bottom of the window, winking at the world.
And on a pillar near the window is this carving which is said to represent the Knights of the Garter in England.
The Convent was almost a city, with training facilities, sleeping quarters, guest accommodation, hospital, kitchen, refectory, ‘bathroom’ facilities, water supply, stables, gardens, and many, many beautiful cloisters.
The Pegões Aqueduct is c.7km in length and was completed in 1619. It was built to bring clean water for all purposes to the Convent, and also supplies the large fountain in the Royal Cloisters. (Interesting article with photographs here.)
There were many beautiful tower staircases and this one led to an upper level.
You may be interested in
Tomar and here
World Heritage Sites in Portugal – Tomar
Providing adequate water to a hilltop monastery
Templar Knights in Portugal
Statues in Tomar
Tomar’s Place in History
The Church of Santa Maria do Olival
seb
Visited the site about 10 years ago or more – and we both (wife and I) are still affected by its beautiful construction, setting, historical legacy/purpose. For me, I just ‘get this’ – it resonates in my bones! Such a powerful ambience – as powerful as like – for example – when you arrive in a city like Rome. It is: Grand! Majestic! But (unlike a city in this aspect – though I know it was its own sort of ‘city’) also somehow: peaceful and solitary. There is much science built into how one is affected emotionally! I was very impressed with the Church, the stonework and the viaduct! The walls are very romantic from a distance – you can almost see the knights guarding the place!
Candy Blackham
We visited 10 years ago! And I remember it as majestic. I like Portugal very much – it has a ‘softness’ compared to Spain, which I am just about to visit, and where there are also majestic cathedrals. Do follow!