PORTUGAL Castles

mcoelho813
1 day ago
6 min read

Are you a history buff? Then Portugal is for you.

Portugal has between 400 and 500 castles and fortifications remaining across the country, with about 100 officially classified as National Monuments. About 206 distinct medieval castles still stand. The oldest castle is Montemor-o-Velho, a Portuguese castle built in 1088–1520 by Alfonso VI of León in the Coimbra district. The most famous and most colorful palace in Portugal is Pena Palace in Sintra. A fabulous castle to visit is São Jorge Castle, located on a hilltop in Santa Maria Maior. Castelo de São Jorge is a medieval castle that overlooks the historical center of Lisbon. The castle has been occupied since at least the 8th century BC. It has been restored and enlarged many times. A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira is a romantic palace and chapel with a royal-style park featuring lakes, wells, and fountains. The well is my favorite place at the palace. Italian architect Luigi Manini designed it in the 1800s. The architecture relates to alchemy, masonry, and the Knights Templar. One of the most intriguing places to visit in Portugal is Tomar Castle and the town of Tomar. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Palace of Mafra was built during King John V's reign in 1717. The King wanted to build a convent for his wife, Queen Mariana, if she gave him children. After the birth of his first daughter, the construction of the palace began. More than 1,000 workers died during the construction. The Palace contains a library with over 30,000 books and a large basilica. The entire building covers 37,790 m2 and features over 1,000 rooms. Located in the middle of the Tagus River on a tiny islet of Almourol, the Castle of Almourol is one of Portugal's most special castles. The castle's reconstruction began in 1171, but it already existed in 1129, when the Christians arrived in Portugal. In northern Portugal, the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança in Guimarães was restored for a presidential residence for President Salazar.

Most colorful Palace	Pena Palace
Oldest Castle in Portugal	Montemor 0 velho
Most Interesting History with Hidden Signs	Tomar
1000 workers died during the construction	Mafra
Most interesting wells	Quinta da Regaleira
Can only view it if you take a boat ride to the Castle	Castle of Almourol

https://www.portugal.com/activities-experiences/8-most-beautiful-castles-and-palaces-in-portugal/

Visit Tomar? Plan for the next big festa 2027

Tomar was founded as the 12th-century headquarters of the Knights Templar. Tomar has 2 distinct areas to visit. First, the historic area with the Convent of Christ, Tomar Castle, Synagogue, Igreja de São João Batista, Old Town, Chapel, and the Museum of Matches. Second is the more modern part of Tomar. The majestic UNESCO-listed Convent of Christ features a rare round church, a historic medieval layout, and a vibrant local culture tied to the rare Festa dos Tabuleiros.

Festa dos Tabuleiros 2027 dates are set!

Get ready to relive your biggest tradition.

The Festa dos Tabuleiros 2027 takes place from July 3 to July 12, featuring unique moments that reinforce the municipality's identity, faith, and culture.

Main events:

March 28 – Procession of the Crowns and Staff of the Holy Spirit

July 4 – Parade of the Young Men

July 7 – Opening of the Ornamented Streets

July 9 – Parade of the Mayors

July 10 – Particular Parades, Tabuleiros Exhibition, and Popular Games

July 11 – Procession of the Crowns and Staff and Parade of the Tabuleiros

July 12 – Distribution of the Paza

More information: tabuleiros.com.pt

Tomar has a great pedestrian-only downtown area and a river park home to swans, herons, and duck families, with ancient structures throughout the town, making it a marvelous place to explore on foot.

What to see and do in Tomar? PORTUGAL Castles

Head to the Convent of Christ

Travel to the Convent of Christ. The UNESCO-listed convent is known for its intricate exterior, a lovely round church, and its one-of-a-kind air of mystery.

The Charola - The magnificent centerpiece of the Convento de Cristo, the Charola is a 16-sided Templar chapel inspired by the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Its unique design allowed the warrior monks to attend Mass on horseback. The walls are adorned with vivid, massive 16th-century artworks.

When was Tomar founded?

The Knights Templar founded the site after King Alfonso II granted the lands to the order. After the knightly order was dissolved, the lands passed to the Order of Christ, which played a major role in the Age of Discovery.

The round church, chapterhouse, and convent dwellings incorporate Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architectural influences. It is scenically set across the Nabao River. Visit the Convent of Christ to see how closely medieval Portugal’s religion, culture, and politics are linked.

What to do in Tomar

Santa Maria do Olival church has a lot of historical relevance. The old town center is from the 15th century. From the old Synagogue, you can drive to the Castelo de Bode reservoir lake and the Pegoes aqueduct. Constância is 15 minutes away and is also amazing. At Constância, be sure to try "Queijinhos do céu," an old conventional sweet treat. PORTUGAL Castles

From the Convent, you can walk down through the Sete Montes Woods to the historic center. Halfway along the road, you will see the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Chapel, a small Renaissance jewel by João de Castilho, a Portuguese who also worked in the Convent.

You must visit Tomar.

The oldest medieval urban area has a cross-shaped layout, with streets running along the points of the compass and a convent at each end. The Praça da República, with its Main Church dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is the center. The surrounding streets are lined with traditional shops where you can buy local pastries such as queijadas (cheesecakes) and the traditional Fatias de Tomar (Tomar slices), made with just egg yolks and cooked in a bain-marie in a special pot invented by a local tinsmith.

Where is an old Aqueduct in Portugal?

Pegões Aqueduct

This 6 km (4 miles) Aqueduct was designed to transport water from the village of Pegões on the outskirts of Tomar to the Convent of Christ in Tomar. It's mostly intact and worth seeing in person.

Don't miss the castle in Tomar, but also the castle of Almourol, where you can take a boat to a small island where this amazing Templar castle is located.

Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes

One of the oldest parks in the area; you can imagine the adventure of initiation into the knightly order. Nearby, the Charolinha, designed by architect João de Castilho, is stunning.

What is something unusual to do in Tomar?

Museu dos Fósforos

This is an interesting place to visit in Tomar. Museu dos Fósforos is a captivating museum with a collection of over 80,000 matches, matchboxes, and matchbooks from 104 countries around the world, presented beautifully. It is near the railway station and a short walk from Tomar's historic center.

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Tomar Castle gate
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Why visit Tomar?

Tomar is the most important place of Templar History in the world, as it has preserved a commanding castle and church, practically intact. The Order of the Temple existed from 1118 to 1308.

Where is Tomar in Portugal?

Tomar is 140 kilometers (87 miles) northeast of Lisbon, on the banks of the Nabão River in central Portugal. It is approximately a 1 1/2 drive from Lisbon. It is a short drive to Fátima and Vila de Rei (N2 road and town to obtain passport stamps in the N2 passport)

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