Tomar, Portugal History Meet the Templars- Pais
- mcoelho813
- 2 hours ago
- 12 min read
Quick Facts
North of Lisbon, close to Fátima
The "Tabuleiros": Women balance 1.5-meter-tall, 16-kilogram towers made of 30 stacked loaves of bread, paper flowers, and wheat ears on their heads. July 2027
Tomar has the Castle built by D. Gualdim Pais, Knights of the Templar
Tomar has the Convent of Christ with hidden messages throughout the building
Less touristy than Óbidos or Fátima
Day trip from Lisbon; stop at the Buddha Garden on the way to Tomar
From Tomar, go to Alcobaça, Batalha, and Óbidos
We spent 1 hour touring the Convent and Castle, then 1 hour walking around the streets
Home to the oldest Synagogue in Portugal, now a museum
Ideal for teenagers and history buffs
Festa and Celebration of Saint Iria - Tomar, Portugal History Meet the Templars- Pais
Oct 17-24, 2025. The procession with the children is always held on October 20th.
Festa Tomar Santa Iria
The Santa Iria Fair has been held annually in Tomar since the 17th century. It lasts for ten days, including October 20th, the day dedicated to the city's patron saint. On that day, the image of Santa Iria is carried in procession, attended by children from local schools, who throw petals into the river to commemorate her martyrdom (suffering death for her religious beliefs).
Legend of Saint Iria October 17-24, 2025
Iria was born into wealth and was given a strong education. As a young woman, she was strikingly beautiful. A young man in town, Britaldo, who was the Governor's nephew, fell in love with Iria. At the convent where she studied, the friar fell in love with her, too. He gave her a poisonous liquid to drink that made her belly swell, and it appeared that Iria was pregnant. She was expelled from the convent. She knelt by the river to pray and was pushed into the river to die by one of Britaldo's soldiers. He fled but was located by the trail of blood he left behind. Her story of purity and faith is celebrated with an annual fair in Tomar. Tomar, Portugal History Meet the Templars- Pais
Festas dos Tabuleiros
https://www.centerofportugal.com/article/trays-feast-in-tomar
When King D. Dinis received permission from the pope to create the Military Order of Christ, his Queen set up festivities with customs that are still practiced. The Tabuleiros are carried on the heads of young girls wearing white dresses to symbolize purity. This festival takes place every 4 years in July. (Next festival will be in 2027)
Hundreds of people spend hours making paper flowers to decorate the streets. Streets compete for the best-decorated street.
'The Holy Spirit Oxen' are slaughtered, and the meat is shared with all the residents in memory of a new world. The oxen killing stopped in 1966.
The festival began with worship of the Holy Spirit and devotion to Queen Saint Isabel, wife of King Dinis. She was born in 1271 into the royal house of Aragon. Isabel was the daughter of King Pedro III and his wife Constance of Sicily and the sister of three kings: Afonso II, James II of Aragon, and Frederick III of Sicily. She was extremely faithful and prayed daily. Her parents arranged her marriage to King Dinis of Portugal in 1281, when she was only 11; the towns of Óbidos, Abrantes, and Porto de Mós were part of her dowry. In 1288, they married when Dinis was 26 years old, and Isabel was 17 years old. She was devoted to the poor people of Portugal. Her feast is celebrated worldwide on July 8.
Festas dos Tabuleiros
Partial TRAYS procession
On Saturday morning, groups from each small town in the area will meet at the town hall. It introduces the larger Sunday parade.
Procession of the Crowns and Holy Spirit Banners
Homeowners decorate the streets with colorful bed linens hanging out the windows. Locals throw flowers as the parade goes by. The procession is led by the rocketeer, bagpipers, and drummers. Then, the band, the Holy Spirit Banner, 3 Holy Spirit Crowns of the city, the 16 parishes with a banner and a crown, and then different people.
The women carry large, decorated trays with bread and flowers on their heads. They rest the trays on the floor during Sunday Mass.
The 1st parade consists of locals and a 'Procession of the Boys' or Mordomo. The boys' parade is on the Sunday before the Grand Parade. The Grand Parade consists of an ox, a horse, and buggies, bugles, bagpipes, and loud music. Locals compete to see which street is decorated best.
On the day of the Grand Parade, fireworks are set off to begin the procession. Men wear white with a red tie, and women wear white with a red sash. The women wear a large tray or headdress on their heads, which is meant to be as tall as they are. The tray is decorated with paper flowers, bread, wheat, and a crown on top.
Tomar, Portugal History Meet the Templars- Pais
Sources are scarce regarding the Templars because of the destruction, which lends them a certain mystique and mystery. Researchers and historians had to interpret clues and look for hidden symbols among the buildings and ruins to trace the Templars' footsteps.
After the 1st conquest of Jerusalem in 1029, Christians wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but traveling through the city was dangerous. People with deep faith wanted to walk on the same soil as Jesus Christ. This is where the Templars come in, helping secure the area so Christians could make the journey. The warrior monks' self-titled name, the Poor Knights of Christ, became the military-religious Order of the Templar Knights. They would protect Christians seeking passage to Jerusalem.
In 1129, the Rules of the Templars were handwritten by S. Bernardo of Clairvaux. They contained strict, secretive rules of conduct, including business ethics, to prevent barbaric acts against mankind. This gave the elite a sense of protection and strengthened the nobility through military force. The Templars brought ethics to organized armies, ensuring respect for human dignity and the preservation of life. This meant that an army could not massacre a group of people like animals.
To become one of these Knights, a man had to be initiated into this Order. He had to demonstrate individual honor, proving he could accomplish his mission even if it meant dying to do it.
Well known in all Christian countries, their primary task was to protect European travelers and pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.
Tomar, Portugal History Meet the Templars- Pais
History of Tomar and Tomar Castle
More than 8 centuries after its founding, the headquarters of the Knights Templar still stands as testimony to its integral role in Portuguese history, from the founding of Portugal as a nation-state through to the Age of Discoveries.
Tomar, Portugal, Knights of the Templar Castle Book
Why are the Templars famous?
"The Templar Knights in Tomar" by Jose Armando Vizela Cardoso
This book is easy to read and includes great references to places in Tomar.
The 8 chapters in this educational book provide details and explanations to help you understand why Tomar was built and why it was built there. Chapter 1 explains the concept of initiation into Knighthood and what it means to be initiated. Chapter 2 describes the Templar knight's responsibilities and role. Chapter 3 is interesting because it outlines the criteria for becoming a knight. Safety was necessary to protect Christian pilgrims traveling from Europe to Palestine. In 1118, 8 noble knights, with Hugh of Pyrenees as the leader, were given the challenge to create a safe community for pilgrims wishing to travel. The knights were chosen carefully by the social structure accepted in the Middle Ages, approved by the Pope, and financially supported by the King and Nobles. When they arrived in Jerusalem, King Baldwin II gave them the ruins of the Temple of King Solomon as a place to stay. It took 6 years to explore and empty the basement of the Castle left by King Solomon. While they worked hard, they did not recruit any others to help create a mystique around the items found in the basement of Solomon's Castle.
Chapter 4 explains the Templars' incredible accomplishments over 178 years. Chapter 5 explains why Tomar was chosen as the place to build the Castle. Tomar became the headquarters of the Portuguese Templar knights because it was in central Portugal, near a river bordering territory occupied by the Moors.
Chapter 6 describes the end of the Templars and the creation of the Order of Christ, created by the Portuguese king. Chapter 7 explains the Order in Portugal and how the Portuguese king supported the Knights. Chapter 8 describes the historic places in Tomar and some of the hidden secrets left by the knights.
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Tomar, Portugal, Knights of the Templar Castle
Sources on the Templars are scarce because of the destruction, which makes them a bit mysterious. Researchers and historians had to interpret clues and look for hidden symbols among the buildings and ruins to trace the Templars' footsteps.
After the 1st conquest of Jerusalem in 1029, Christians wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but traveling through the city was dangerous. People with deep faith wanted to walk on the same soil as Jesus Christ. This is where the Templars came in, helping secure the area so Christians could make the journey. The warrior monks' self-titled name, the Poor Knights of Christ, became the military-religious Order of the Templar Knights. They would protect Christians seeking passage to Jerusalem.
In 1129, the Rules of the Templars were handwritten by S. Bernardo of Clairvaux. They contained strict, secretive rules of conduct, including business ethics, to prevent barbaric acts against mankind. This gave the elite a sense of protection and strengthened the nobility through military force. The Templars brought ethics to organized armies, ensuring respect for human dignity and the preservation of life. This meant that an army could not massacre a group of people like animals.
To become one of these Knights, a man had to be initiated into this Order. He had to demonstrate individual honor, proving he could accomplish his mission even if he had to die to do it.
Shopping in the Gift Shop at the Castle
Tomar store Tomar store 
Tomar store Tomar gift store 
Tomar 
Tomar castle store entering castle store Tomar Tomar castle windows Tomar Castle walls cobblestone streets Tomar Castle
Tomar, Portugal History Meet the Templars- Pais
Should you visit Tomar?
Tomar is packed with history and beauty, with a twist: it is home to hidden symbols, secret passages, ancient rites, and a fine line between the sacred and pagan. If your group wants to learn about knights and castles, then you should visit Tomar.
Tomar is home to the oldest
Synagogue in Portugal (intact and in good condition). The Synagogue is extremely small and in a back alley, but it is worth the visit. The synagogue was built in the first half of the 15th century, but was closed when King Manuel I ordered that all Jews in Portugal must either convert to Catholicism or leave Portugal. The small structure is now a museum. The physical address of the museum is Rua Dr. Joaquim Jacinto 73, Tomar, Portugal
Walking the small cobblestone streets of Tomar, winding around the river, narrow streets, and bridge, feels like you are traveling through time. Every turn reveals a historic detail, and every street offers a window into the past. The tile buildings with iron railings surrounding the verandas are charming and glamorous.
Most visited attraction
Castle of Tomar
The Castle can be seen from a far distance.
The town of Tomar was built inside the walls of the Convento de Cristo, commissioned by D. Gualdim de Pais, the 4th Grand Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal, in 1160. Tomar was the last Templar town to be commissioned for construction.
The castle is divided into 3 parts. The 1st section is Almedina, which is the beginning of the village; the 2nd is the Arms Square; and the 3rd is the Citadel, with a military zone and a living area.
The Knights Templar rebuilt the castle in 1171. The castle was abandoned for many years after the Knights were abolished. It is now open to the public and hosts events for the Portuguese Republic (government). There are hidden symbols and carvings all around the castle. Even the cross has a hidden meaning. The Templar cross has the same-length branches, is solid red, and has a unique shape. During the reign of Pope Honorius 11, the Knights were granted the right to wear white to represent innocence. During the reign of Eugene 111, the Templars were authorized to add a red cross to their clothing. The cross corresponds to Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
The cross symbolizes military power. They often carried it on battlefields and in military parades. The knights could not leave a battle if the flag was still flying. This ensured the knights gained a reputation for honor, glory, strong will, and courage.
Because the Knights Templar saw themselves as defenders of Christianity and protectors of the Holy Land, the Catholic Church and the Pope supported the order. The number of Knights Templar grew rapidly, along with their power and reputation throughout Europe.
Often, the Templar's cross is accompanied by a crown. The crown could be considered a heavenly reward for those who fought to protect our world, land, and religion.
Some people wonder what else the Templars were protecting. Some ponder: did the Templars protect Jesus? Was Jesus alive? Why is there so much secrecy surrounding the Templars?
Convent of Christ
In 1983, UNESCO declared the Templar Castle and Convent of the Knights of Christ of Tomar a "World Heritage monument." This large, monumental complex, including the Convent and the Castle, makes up this UNESCO site.
In 1314, the Order of the Templars was abolished. King Dom Dinis, the Leader of Portugal, allowed the Knights to remain for years. He created a new order, the Militia of the Knights of Christ. With the people, possessions, and privileges that, together with Prince Henry the Navigator, would support the Portuguese nation in the maritime discoveries of the 15th and 16th centuries. Tomar Castle became a Convent and the headquarters of the Order and Henry the Navigator.
Other Attractions
Railway Museum
Synagogue of Tomar
Church of Santa Maria
Republic Square
Match museum
Township site
Festa Tomar Santa Iria, October 20th Annual
The Santa Iria Fair has been held annually in Tomar since the 17th century. It lasts for ten days, including October 20th, the day dedicated to the city's patron saint. On that day, the image of Santa Iria is carried in procession, attended by children from local schools, who throw petals into the river to commemorate her martyrdom (suffering death for her religious beliefs).
Legend of Saint Iria October 17-24, 2025
Iria was born into wealth and was given a strong education. As a young woman, she was strikingly beautiful. A young man in town, Britaldo, who was the Governor's nephew, fell in love with Iria. At the convent where she studied, the friar fell in love with her, too. He gave her a poisonous liquid to drink that made her belly swell, and it appeared that Iria was pregnant, but she was not pregnant. She was expelled from the convent. She knelt by the river to pray and was pushed into the river to die by one of Britaldo's soldiers. He fled but was located by the trail of blood he left behind. Her story of purity and faith is celebrated with an annual fair in Tomar.
Festas dos Tabuleiros
When King D. Dinis received permission from the pope to create the Military Order of Christ, his Queen set up festivities with customs that are still practiced. Young girls carry the Tabuleiros on their heads, wearing white dresses to symbolize purity. This festival takes place every 4 years in July. (Next festival will be in 2027)
Hundreds of people spend hours making paper flowers to decorate the streets. Streets compete for the best-decorated street.
BUTLER procession
'The Holy Spirit Oxen' are slaughtered, and the meat is shared with all the residents in memory of a new world. The oxen killing stopped in 1966.
Partial TRAYS procession
On Saturday morning, groups from each small town in the area meet at the town hall. It introduces the bigger Sunday parade.
Procession of the Crowns and Holy Spirit Banners
Homeowners decorate the streets with colorful bed linens hanging out the windows. Locals throw flowers as the parade goes by. The procession is led by the rocketeer, bagpipers, and drummers. Then, the band, the Holy Spirit Banner, 3 Holy Spirit Crowns of the city, the 16 parishes with a banner and a crown, and then different people.
The women carry large, decorated trays with bread and flowers on their heads. They rest the trays on the floor during Mass on Sunday.
Things to do in Tomar
Convent of Christ
UNESCO World Site
Founded in 1160
Pombal castle Pombal Castle Castle door Pombal Portugal Pombal portugal Castle door Pombal Castle Pombal entrance pombal Pombal sign
Pombal Castle
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