'The Order of the Knights Templar'
I think their title alone is evocative in itself. It conjures up images of magnificent warriors, riding their steeds into battle, swords wielding, armour gleaming, flags flying, all in the name of religion.
Tomar is the location of the Convento De Christo, the headquarters of the Knights Templar established in 1162. This UNESCO site did not fail to impress us with its design, location and content. Built high on the hill above Tomar it is indeed a mix of military, religious and imperial elements of Portuguese history.
The sixteen sided Rotunda was based on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and although perhaps fairly plain from the outside, the inside is breathtaking. In the middle stands a magnificent high alter surrounded by a two story octagon. It is said that the Knights attended Mass on horseback here.
The rest of the complex fits into the category of just another convent, by which I mean full of the architectural marvels and spiritual feeling that we have now come to expect.
We enjoyed seeing the Convento enormously and perhaps one reason we did so was despite not being religious we could relate to the military side of things. The Knights were military men, effective strategists and ruthless soldiers.
It was quite awe inspiring to see and be in the same place that they lived in and from where they would plan and launch their crusades.
I think if I had lived 800 years ago, I could well have been a Knight Templar!
