The castle of the knights templars

[Mr P]

You may have read about the Knights Templars in Dan Brown's fictions. You may not have known that they had a big home in Portugal and that most of it is still there, towering high above the town of Tomar. It is huge.

If you will forgive me, I plan to post a kind of documentary series of photos in this thread (but not all at once) to share with the forum. They were taken on different dates, usually when we went there with visitors.

The town of Tomar is about 45 minutes drive from where we live. The fortress there was founded in 1160 to give strategic support to the Christian advance southwards and was the seat of the Order of the Temple (which was abolished in 1312.) In Portugal its property was inherited by the Order of Christ. In 1983 the Convent of Christ, along with the Templar castle, was classified as a World heritage monument by UNESCO who say that Tomar was declared a World Heritage Site because:
"Originally designed as a monument symbolizing the Reconquest, the Convent of the Knights Templar of Tomar (transferred in 1344 to the Knights of the Order of Christ) came to symbolize just the opposite during the Manueline period - the opening up of Portugal to other civilizations".

Mr P

[Mr P]

#1


The Templars also built small outpost castles along the Rio Tejo. This photo is of the 'fairytale' style Castelo Almourol. It was built 1171 on a little island in a river bend near Constância. I post this one first to get it out of the way, here, and then concentrate on the main fortress.
Mr P

[Mr P]

#2


I can imagine the knights riding up this entrance to the big main fortress.
Mr P

[Mr P]

#3


The 15th century knights would have ridden into the parade ground and would have seen the imposing Charola (rotunda or round church) in front of them. It was built around 1418. Nowadays, its steps are often used for posing wedding photos.
Mr P

[Douglas]

Banned for...oh wait, wrong thread

I like this idea. Some places everyone knows the history already, or there isnt a history. But to see the images and to have the story in the post makes it more real.

[Rense]

I like this style of presenting architectural images.
A good story, and beautifull photo's. Do you have any photo's of the interiors Mr P?

[Mr P]

Patience, Sir. They are coming. But I don't want to overload the thread with too many at once.

Mr P

[Mr P]

#5


Turn round again in the garden at the side of the parade ground - there is a nice view of the Charola. To the right are the palace ruins.
In the next set of photos, we look at the Charola entrance.

#4


Turn round and you will be looking back at the entrance (I might have to admit that my wife took this one - I don't remember; it was a while ago.)

Mr P

[Mr P]

#7

Here is a detail of the main statue above the door (also photographed by my wife.)

#6

In photo #3 you could just make this out this door. It is at the top of the main steps, to the left of the round Charola. It is the main door into the church. It would not disgrace many a cathedral. The twist motifs carved in the wall to the right are typical of Manueline architecture.

Tomorrow we go inside the fortress.
Mr P

[Rense]

impressive work. CAn't wait till tomorrow.

[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

[Rense]

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

you will write in the guest book
you will write in the guest book
you will write in the guest book
you will write in the guest book
you will write in the guest book
you will write in the guest book
I went ... .

[Mr P]

Today, we go inside. You enter by a small door ot the right of the Charola and immediately you are in one of the many cloisters (I don't remember how many there are, eight, ten, maybe more.)

They are cool and shady inside but in the centres, in the full sun, they are a bit warm. The harsh light and contrasts do make photography difficult.

Mr P

[Mr P]

#8


Many of the cloisters are lined with 17th century blue 'azulejos'. This is the first one when you come in. It is the washing (laundry) cloister where the monks washed their clothes.

(Unfortunately, the view outside is quite 'blown out' due to the harsh light on white walls. I've not attepted to burn it.)

Mr P

[Mr P]

#9


One cloister leads to another. The second one is the cemetary cloister. It was the first to have been built. I think that the big stones on the floor are the grave stones. They all have numbers carved on them.

The little door in the corner leads to a tiny, tile-covered chapel that is impossible to photograph well.

Mr P

[Rense]

Originally Posted by Mr P

#8


Many of the cloisters are lined with 17th century blue 'azulejos'. This is the first one when you come in. It is the washing (laundry) cloister where the monks washed their clothes.

(Unfortunately, the view outside is quite 'blown out' due to the harsh light on white walls. I've not attepted to burn it.)

Mr P

THats a nice one Mr P. Any reason why you didn't level on the blue/white demarcation in the background?

[Rense]

Originally Posted by Mr P

#9


One cloister leads to another. The second one is the cemetary cloister. It was the first to have been built. I think that the big stones on the floor are the grave stones. They all have numbers carved on them.

good leading in lines. Any special significance to the numbers?

Originally Posted by Mr P

The little door in the corner leads to a tiny, tile-covered chapel that is impossible to photograph well.

Mr P

what is the problem? out of reach, very dark ?

[Mr P]

#8 You and I crossed in the post on the levelling. I had suddenly noticed it on this old photo was just correcting it as you commented. Look again. But thanks all the same for pointing it out.

#9 The problem with the little chapel is three-fold: the only light is from the door, the whole thing is covered in glazed tiles and it is not much wider than the path in the cloister.

The numbers on the stone slabs are sequential as you walk along and I've not come across anything that gives their significance. No doubt there is something in the castle archive.

Mr P

[Rense]

thanks for answering Mr P .

[Mr P]

#10


The windows in that first cloister make good photo frames.

If you go back to photo #3 you can just see this window behind the righthand tree. From it you look onto the main steps and beyond that is the arched window of the ruined Chapter House. You can see what I mean about the harsh Portuguese early-afternoon light.

Mr P