The castle of the knights templars

[Mr P]

#41

In the earlier days, the archives were kept in this attractive room, now known as the library. The Templar Cross at the far end is, naturally, tiled. (Pity about the modern table.)
Mr P

[Rense]

Originally Posted by Mr P

#41

In the earlier days, the archives were kept in this attractive room, now known as the library. The Templar Cross at the far end is, naturally, tiled. (Pity about the modern table.)
Mr P

quite serene. A good reading place.

[Mr P]

From time to time, some rooms are used for special functions. I strongly suspect this will be one of them.

Mr P

[Rense]

I understand.

[Mr P]

#42

Here we are outside in one of the gardens, looking at the keep and the real fortress. Just a pity we can't go in. The photo was taken in the winter a while ago (blue skies); the oranges stay on the trees for quite some months.

Mr P

PS The next post is going to be a site-plan.

[Rense]

good leading inlines Mr P .
How large are the gardens?

[Mr P]

Originally Posted by Rense

How large are the gardens?

I've no idea what the surface area of the whole site is, I would guess 2-3 ha present-day. In the past a lot more. The gardens occupy about half of it.

Mr P

[Mr P]

I have scanned the official brochure to make these floor plans. The yellowish-green squares are the cloisters. The lilac-coloured parts are open to the public. The paler blue parts are residential and artistic work areas. The numbers are those of the photos and indicate where I stood to take them. Not all of the photos are mentioned as some are quite obvious.

This is the 'ground floor'


This is the 'top floor'


Huge though the round Charola is, you can see that it is only a small part of the whole complex.

Mr P

PS There are still some more photos to come in the next post.

[lakejessup]

wow did you number these ahead of time or just for this post. neat way to cataloge a visit to somewhere special

[Rense]

Good work Mr P .
You could apply for the official photographer of knights templar job.

[Mr P]

Originally Posted by lakejessup

wow did you number these ahead of time or just for this post. neat way to cataloge a visit to somewhere special

It was actually Rense's idea.

I simply took a heap of photos, threw away the crap, and posted the rest. Having escorted most of our visitors there, I now know my way around the place (must say I never get tired of it) so numbering the plan was easy.

Mr P

[lakejessup]

Originally Posted by Mr P

It was actually Rense's idea.

I simply took a heap of photos, threw away the crap, and posted the rest. Having escorted most of our visitors there, I now know my way around the place (must say I never get tired of it) so numbering the plan was easy.

Mr P

well i would have never though of it not being that detail orientated

[Mr P]

#43


This shiny mosaic and blue tile tableau grace the ivy-covered walls that you will see in the next posts.

#44


I don't know who is represented in the tile tableau. I have a feeling it is one of the early Portuguese sea-faring explorers being blessed before setting off.
Mr P

[Mr P]

Now a short history lesson. Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460), third son of King João I and Philippa of Lancaster became life Grand Master of the Order of Christ at Tomar in 1420. Guess where the money came from to fund his sponsorship of Portuguese voyages of exploration. The Order of Christ was rich and it was not for nothing that the Portuguese caravels carried the Templars' cross on their sails.

This stone commemorates Gonçalo Velho who discovered the Açores in 1432. (It was actually a rediscovery as parts of them had appeared on a map dated 1375.)
#45


Mr P

[lakejessup]

wow really like the mosaics and the history

[Mr P]

This was taken in the winter.
#47


Another 'Manueline' door. You could wonder if that was the door-bell above.
#46

The sky was one solid layer of high white cloud.

You will guess (correctly) that photos #43,44 &45 are also on these ivy-clad walls.

Mr P

[Rense]

what is to the right bhand side of #47 Mr P?

[Pony]

Originally Posted by Mr P

Thank you Rense and Douglas for your remarks.

To others who have a look - it would be appreciated if you leave a sort of "guestbook" comment as to whether or not you approve of this serial and rather documentary style of presentation.
(My wife accuses me of being in lecture mode!)

Mr P

Consider this my guestbook entry.Lecture mode is " Good."
Excellent post.It deserves multiple K.

[patterfr]

Boy am I glad I stumbled on this.
Great job with it Mr P.
And no it isn't boring at all.
Keep going!!

[Mr P]

Thanks Patterfr and Pony. Sadly, I have to say we're soon coming to the end. But I've mananged to keep it going for the best part of 2-3 weeks.

Originally Posted by Rense

what is to the right bhand side of #47 Mr P?

There is a small garden and some derelict farm buildings (more about them later).
This statue is in a corner of the garden. It is a photo I took only last Sunday but I hadn't intended to post it because of the blown out sky. However, for completeness......

#48


Mr P