Private Tour KNIGHTS TEMPLAR ROUTE Includes tickets for 2 castles and boat trip
Inspired by the mysteries of the history of the Knights of the Order of the Temple and its full symbology of hidden messages, we will take you to the discovery of the Templar treasures in Portugal.
The Order of the Templars was established in Portugal in the XII century to help Portuguese kings in the Christian Reconquest and continue the Crusades. You will see their first castle and also their first headquarters at the City of Tomar from the year 1160, at the time, the most modern and advanced military device of the kingdom, inspired by the fortifications of the Holy Land. Two centuries later, in 1312, the Order was extinguished by Pope Clement V, with the intention of putting an end to their fame and power. In Portugal, however, the Order of Christ was created, faithful keepers of all its spiritual and material riches, preserving the crusading spirit during the portuguese Discoveries.
You will be guided by stories that will carry you in an imaginary quest for the Holy Grail.
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Private Tour KNIGHTS TEMPLAR ROUTE Includes tickets for 2 castles and boat trip
Pickup included
What's included in Private Tour KNIGHTS TEMPLAR ROUTE Includes tickets for 2 castles and boat trip
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Castelo De Ourem
The Ourém Castle is located on top of the town of Ourém, a place conquered to Arabs by the King D.Afonso Henriques during 1136, being the first castle built between 12th and 13th centuries. Nowadays it is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Portugal. To see it you must climb a hillside that lays across the old side of Ourém. The story goes that its name comes from a Moorish woman, Fátima, who fell in love with a Templar knight and converted to Christianity, adopting the name of Ouerana.
Medieval Town of Ourem, PortugalPass-by Only
Towns and Villages At the top of a high hill, which was the ideal place for the building of a settlement in the old days, stands the older part of the town of Ourém, founded under the name of Abdegas. The Moorish occupation of the region from the 9th century onwards lies at the origin of the town's current name, reminding us of the story of the Moorish maiden Fátima, who converted to Christianity because of her love for the Knight Templar Gonçalo Hermingues and thereafter adopted the name of Oureana. In 1136, the town was conquered from the Moors by Dom Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, who gave it to his daughter. Dona Teresa ordered the Castle to be built in 1178, and granted the town a charter in 1180. The 15th century was the most crucial historical period for the town's development, when the fourth Count of Ourém, Dom Afonso, the grandson of Dom João I and Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, settled here. Dating from that time are the reinforcement of the town's walls which still encircle the old mediaeval centre today, the Count's Palace, the Igreja da Colegiada, a church that was remodelled in the 18th century, and the Pillory. Roughly two kilometres away, down in the valley, is the new town of Vila Nova de Ourém, built after the earthquake of 1755 and now the main residential and commercial area. During your visit to the town, make sure to sample the local cuisine, in which the highlights are the dishes cooked with lamb, kid and rabbit, whilst amongst the pastries make sure to taste the famous Bolos de Arco de Ourém. You are advised to accompany your meal with a glass or two of one of the regional wines. Grapevines are one of the oldest plantations in the region, dating back to the time before the town's actual foundation. If you're a devout believer in the Virgin Mary, make sure to visit Fátima close by, where there is a most important shrine dedicated to Our Lady. If you're a nature lover, then we recommend that you set off to discover the Serra de Aires e dos Candeeiros, a range of hills that marks the municipality's southern border.
Convento de Cristo
The Convent of Christ In 1983, UNESCO awarded the classification of world heritage to the Templar Castle and the Convent of the Knights of Christ in Tomar, a unique monument in the history of the western world. Built on a site that was originally used for Roman worship, this vast monumental complex illustrates seven centuries of Portugal's history and contains several important mementoes of decisive moments in the history of the western world. Afonso Henriques, our first king, bestowed upon the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem vast tracts of land between the Mondego and Tagus rivers. Legend has it that, on reaching this region, the Knights were inspired by favourable omens to choose a hill on which to establish a castle and the name that they were to give to it: Tomar. The year was 1160 and D. Gualdim Pais, the Provincial Master of the Order of the Temple, ordered the castle to be built and the region to be settled.
Inclusions
- Boat trip
- WiFi on board
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Private tour
- Bottled water
- Includes tickets at 2 castles
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Food and drinks
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Dress code is smart casual
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
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Pickup and Dropoff
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Additional Information
We also pick up our guests at their accommodation, train station, and any other destinations on agreement.
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
• Dress code is smart casual • Comfortable walking shoes are recommended • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
