Tomar brings together Templar history, Jewish culture, striking buildings and urban green spaces, along with the Festa dos Tabuleiros. You can choose different focuses for your stay: architectural history, Jewish tradition, time outdoors or travel dates that coincide with the festival.

Templar History and Buildings

The Convento de Cristo complex and the Templar castle include the Romanesque Charola. It gives the architectural history a clear focus. Tomar Castle was built in 1160 by Gualdim Pais. The Church of Santa Maria do Olival contains the tombstone of the Templar Master D. Gualdim Pais. The same name thus appears in two historical contexts: as the builder of the castle and in connection with the church’s tombstone.

The Pegões Altos Aqueduct adds water management to the picture of Tomar’s architectural history. It carries water from four springs on the outskirts of Tomar, in the Pegões area, to the Convento de Cristo. The structure is about six kilometres long and has 180 round arches. Its approximate length and the number of arches bring two different aspects into focus: the extent of the water channel and its repeating construction.

The Sinagoga de Tomar offers a different cultural perspective. Its ceiling is supported by four columns, connected inside by twelve arches. It preserves tombstones from several places in Portugal, as well as books and objects relating to Jewish tradition and worship. The building’s structure and the preserved artefacts thus stand side by side as two distinct aspects of a Jewish cultural site in Tomar.

The Festa dos Tabuleiros

The Festa dos Tabuleiros takes place every four years in early July. Check the specific festival dates separately when planning your trip. In its ceremonial sequence, it begins on Easter Sunday with a procession of crowns and banners from all the parishes. Other elements include the procession of the boys and the procession of the festival’s presiding official, decorated streets, traditional games, smaller processions, festivities and the Pêza. The programme may vary from one edition to another.

Urban Green Spaces and Practical Information

Sete Montes National Park is a 39-hectare green space between the Convento de Cristo and Tomar city centre. There is room to walk, relax, exercise and enjoy nature; the park also has a playground and picnic areas. Mouchão Park offers a different setting: it is a small island in the Nabão River, connected to Tomar by footbridges. A green space and a river island thus represent two different forms of urban greenery. Check the park’s current accessibility before your visit.

Avenida Dr Vieira Guimarães is part of the route from Tomar’s historic centre. The road is quite steep and has no pavements or crossings. If this route is important to your plans, check conditions before your visit; road conditions and recommendations may change.

Discover more destinations: Pedreira, Alvrangel, Junceira, Paialvo, Paço

Go to the main travel overview: Tomar.