Tomar’s Historical Highlights: A Guide to Portugal’s Knights Templar Town

Tomar’s history extends far beyond its famous Templar connections. On this walking tour, you’ll discover how this medieval fortress town became a center of exploration, Jewish scholarship, and cultural traditions that continue today.

Starting in front of the Church Santa Maria do Olival, where Templar masters lie buried, you’ll follow the peaceful Nabão River through neighborhoods where centuries of Portuguese life have unfolded. You’ll hear about the Age of Discovery and several colourful Portuguese festivals as you stroll past traditional pastry shops serving sweets found nowhere else.

You’ll weave through the historic Jewish Quarter with its remarkably preserved medieval synagogue, and beside waterways that once powered mills for the powerful religious orders. Along the way, you’ll find out how Jewish, Christian, and Moorish influences shaped the town’s identity. The tour ends in the historical Largo do Pelourinho, a square that once served as the town’s center of justice.

On this 90-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Hear about Gualdim Pais who founded Tomar in 1160 and find out how Prince Henry the Navigator funded his maritime expeditions
• Walk through Casa dos Cubos, a 16th-century granary transformed into a modern cultural center
• Decode the stunning azulejo tile panels depicting women carrying towering bread trays
• Visit one of Portugal’s best-preserved medieval synagogues, rediscovered in the 1900s
• Learn about the forced conversion of Jews in 1496 and its impact on Portuguese society
• Stand in Praça da República where Templar knights once gathered and modern festivals are still celebrated
• Stroll through Parque do Mouchão’s tranquil gardens with views of the Convent of Christ on the hilltop

By the end of this tour, you’ll have experienced Tomar as both a medieval Templar stronghold and a lively Portuguese town where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with contemporary life.