The Templar Route – 6 Days of Mistery and History

During a siege of the city that lasted almost four months (1 July to 21 October1147), the City of White Light which was under Moorish domination, was taken by D. Afonso Henriques with the help of the Templars and Norman, English, Scottish, Flemish and German Crusaders contacted by the Bishop of Porto. In an elaborate strategy they constructed catapults and an enormous tower to facilitate entry to Lisbon. Successive investments weakened the “enemy” and the attacks finished up by breaking down the walls next to the Portas do Sol. Lisbon

Castle of S. Jorge
Situated on the highest hill of the historic centre, in the Castle district, São Jorge is the patron saint of horses and the crusades gives his name to this iconic feature of the city.

Alfama
Is the most typical and best loved district of Lisbon, not only for the Moorish influence in its architecture but also the local and welcoming spirit of the people who live there.

Cathedral of Lisbon
Construction of the Cathedral started in 1147 and was finished in the first decades of the 13th century. A long series of renovations, earthquakes and reconstructions means the Cathedral is today a mixture of architectural styles.

Jerónimos Monastery
This former Portuguese monastery of the order of Saint Jerónimos has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. It is the greatest example of Manueline architecture, also known as “Portuguese Gothic”.

Memorial to the Discoveries
An architectural work which evokes the Age of the Discoveries and the overseas expansion of Portugal, largely sponsored by the Order through expropriation of property from the Infidels.

Tower of Belém
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, it is called one of the seven wonders of Portugal.

Overnight Lisbon

With the Christian reconquest of Sintra, D. Afonso Henriques handed over guardianship of the city to the Order of the Templars in a document addressed to the Grande Master of the Order, D. Gualdim Pais. Among the donations in the document is the Forest of Almosquer, houses in the centre of the City (where now are the Café Paris and Hotel Central, Murtas). Under the City are subterranean galleries, a work of the Templars which are explored by archaeologists.

Pena Palace
The original construction of this magnificent Palace, National Heritage, dates from the 16th century. In the reign of D. João II it was only a small chapel in honour of Nossa Senhora da Pena. In the 19th century D. Fernando II marveled at the scenery of Sintra and decided to acquire this space as well as the surrounding areas, Castle of the Moors, farms and forests. Genealogically this was known to be linked to the Rose Cross fraternity, of which he was the Grand Master and later the Order of Christ (after the Templars). It now contains allegories to the Order such as the bow window and the north façade of the Palace, both inspired by the Convent of Christ.

Moor´s Castle
In an attempt to take the Castle of Sintra, known as the Castle of the Moors, D. Afonso Henriques entrusted D. Gil, a knight templar who took a trusted group of men and secretly observed the enemies. Legend is mixed with reality and people say that when they walked silently at night so as not to be seen, between Colares and Penedo, Our Lady appeared to them and said ” Have no fear because if you walk twenty miles you can walk a thousand” . The knights took courage and beat the Moors. Truth or myth, what is true is that a chapel was built to Nossa Senhora de Milides (Mil Ides) situated in Colares. The Castle was always linked to the Order until D. Fernando acquired it.

Quinta da Regaleira
The most enigmatic, unusual and mysterious building in Sintra, it is also known as Palace of Monteiro dos Milhões, associated with the name of its first owner António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. This estate of four 4 hectares is enclosed by luxuriant gardens and tunnels in the subsoil, open to the public. It blatantly exhibits symbolic marks that evoke Masonry, Rose Cross and Templars. Possibly the most charismatic is the Initiate Well, a subterranean gallery with spiral staircase, in nine landings and sections of 25 stairs that evoke hell, paradise and purgatory as in Dante’s Divine Comedy, linked to the Rose Cross. At the bottom of the well the symbol of the Templar Cross overlaps the Rose of the Winds. The pretty chapel of Santíssima Trindade has embedded in the floor the Armillary Sphere and the Cross of the Order of Christ enclosed by pentagrams. Totally unmissable!

Overnight Lisbon

Tomar
This Portuguese city in the district of Santarém became famous throughout the world for the miracle that occurred on 13 October 1917, the apparition of Our Lady. The name of this old village comes from the Arab name Fãtimah, a Moorish princess who on the Christian reconquest was captured by the Portuguese army and offered to the Count of Ourém. She converted to Christianity and was baptised with the name Oriana. The Count baptised the mountain lands Fátima in honour of the ancestry of his wife. We cannot miss paying a short visit to the sanctuary.

D. Afonso Henriques was helped by the Knights of the Order of Templars in taking back lands from the Arabs who occupied what is today Portugal. As a reward – and at the same time taking advantage of their help in defending the country – the King granted them enormous territories. From Tomar the Templars governed several regions and defended them from attacks by Moors from the south.

Everyone who owned a horse was obliged to complete military service and received privileges in exchange. Women could enter the order but they were not allowed to fight. In 1314, King Dinis ended the Order under pressure from the Pope who wanted to abolish it from the whole of Europe but he managed to persuade the Vatican otherwise – through many bribes – and thus created the new Order of Christ. All powers and properties of the Order of the Templars were transferred to the new Order. In the 15th century the Grand Master was appointed only by order of the Pope and the Master or Governor by the King. After the Inquisition Court was established in the city, many Jews living there who refused to convert to Christianity were killed or their property expropriated on behalf of the Order which became even richer.

Convent of Christ
Built on the order of Gualdim Pais, this convent is a National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the seat of the Order under the command of Infante D. Henrique, Master of the Order from 1418. Cloisters were constructed between the Rotunda (one of the most beautiful works built by the Templars, inspired by the Temple of Jerusalem) and the Templars’ fortress. During the reign of D. João III extraordinary cloisters and a church were constructed that well demonstrated the power and wealth of the Order. It is enclosed by the walls of the Castle of Tomar and by the surrounding forest.

Templar Castle of Tomar
Constructed by the Templars to defend against Moorish attacks in 1160, it proved its strength when the Emir of Morocco encircled Tomar with his army. Years later the Knights not only resisted the attack but also inflicted a series of casualties on the “enemies”. The castle gate is called the Gate of Blood. In the reign of D. Manuel I the convents and the Queen’s Palaces were extended creating one of the most beautiful Portuguese architectural complexes. It was classified as National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Castle of Almourol
Although historians do not know the year of its true origin, it is believed that the original site dates from pre-historic times (Iron Age). This magnificent castle, considered the prettiest in the country, is situated on a small island 18 metres above sea level, 310 m long and 75 m wide. In the 8th century this island was taken from the Visigoths by the Moors. They constructed the fortification which they called Almorolan (high stone). As the Christian reconquest progressed it was taken back by D. Afonso Henriques in 1129 and given to the Templars who rebuilt the structure. The epigraphic plate on the main door tells us that the works were completed in 1171.

Overnight Tomar

Castle of Ceras
Often confused with the Castle of Tomar, it actually preceded it when the Templars abandoned it for a more strategic location. In 1159 Gualdim Pais was given a small castle and a vast territory which surrounded the municipality of Tomar. Only the ruins exist.
Pias, Dornes & Castelo Branco

Pias
This was the city and seat of the municipality of Ferreira do Zêzere until the beginning of the 19th century. Before Portugal’s independence it formed part of the Castle of Ceras. Later the whole area of the was given by D. Afonso Henriques to the Templars and afterwards it came under the domain of the Order of Christ.

Dornes
The town is among the five prettiest towns in Portugal. Dominating the small white houses is the Templar tower, constructed by the Knights to guard over the Zêzere Valley. It is an unusual shape, with five faces of crude schist and inside are several Templar funeral monoliths. From the 16th century it ceased to be used for defense and became a beacon tower. Inside there is an excellently preserved organ which is still used for concerts in the church. Its renaissance pulpit is made up of five rows of rosettes and in the centre is the Cross of Christ.

Castelo Branco
Also known as Castle of the Templars, after the reconquest it was given to the Order of the Temple for it to own and defend. The centre of the city preserves the memory of mediaeval times etched into the stones of the walls, expanded by D. Dinis. The streets proudly show off signs of the past with sixteenth century houses decorated with beautiful doors and windows as symbols of the merchants’ prosperity. The Churches of Misericórdia and of São Miguel, the current Cathedral, were built. To elevate this city even more D. Nuno Noronha ordered the construction of the Episcopal Palace as a symbol of the city and its importance at national level.

Overnight Castelo Branco

Castelo Novo
With an extraordinary location in the Serra da Gardunha, we arrive to Castelo Novo. It was given in the 13th century to the Order of the Temple (later Order of Christ) to guarantee its defense. D. Manuel I intervened in the mediaeval structure and he made Castelo Branco into an unusual architectural complex with Manueline and Baroque influences. Its imposing Castle was built at an altitude of 650 metres, without walls surrounding it but enclosed by a structure fortified by the Knights of the Order of Christ while the population increased over time. In this way the old town became circular in shape with a labyrinthine interior of winding streets and irregular steps to deal with the differences in levels.

Monsanto
We arrive at the “most Portuguese town in Portugal”, which this old town is known as after the competition during the dictatorship in Portugal of the “Estado Novo” (in 1938). It is built at an imposing altitude of 750 metres. After receiving it from King Afonso Henriques the Templars built a primitive castle in the hope of encouraging people to live in this steep region. Several armies tried to invade it without success because it was too high and difficult to access. The whole town evokes a mediaeval rural image with its narrow steep streets paved with granite cobbles. The Gate of Santo António is one of the most important mediaeval accesses of the town and opposite is the Chapel of Espirito Santo. A community oven is still in operation on the slope leading to the Castle, evidence of the liveliness and solidarity of the inhabitants of the town. Unmissable!

Overnight Belmonte

Belmonte
Although it is not a Templar fort like the previous towns we have visited, we could not miss coming to the beautiful town of Belmonte.
Until a short time ago, a secret community of Sephardite Jews lived here who had lived in secret since the edict (expulsion) of D. Manuel I, which forced them to convert to Christianity under pain of death or expropriation of property through the Inquisition Court and Autos de Fé (Acts of Faith).
Belmonte maintains its mediaeval ambience in an exemplary way in that the Jews secretly have safeguarded their traditions, speech and costumes from that period until the present day.

Santarém
In a fertile region, the city rises magnificently from a plain and it is a natural viewpoint where we can find the Interpretation Centre of UrbiSacallabis.
The city forms part of the lands given to the Order of Christ which gave financial support to the Portuguese Maritime Discoveries, a time of great development and prosperity. The cross of the Order of Christ was painted on the sails of the Caravels that left on their expeditions.
King Afonso Henriques, organized an ambush on the Moors who dominated the region and during the night on a staircase around the Garden of the Portas do Sol seized the Moors by surprise and took the territory from them.

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