UNESCO heritage tour: Tomar, Batalha & Alcobaça

Learn about how Tomar became even more important to the Templars when it unexpectedly became the “non-official” headquarters of the Order, shortly after it was banned by the Vatican, in early XIV century. In Portugal, the Templars managed to continue their mission after King Dennis made a successful a “rebranding” operation that received the green light from Rome: their name was changed to Order of Christ… but they continued to be… the Templars. Tomar became the “de facto” headquarters of the Templars. 

When Henry the Navigator became the Administrator of the order they were assigned a new role and the Order of Christ soon became key to the kick-start and the success of the Age of Discoveries, in which Portugal was a pioneer, establishing the first global empire. 

Later on, in 1581, the Convent of Christ was the stage for the ceremony that sealed the  creation of the Iberian Union, the biggest empire in the world at the time. The tour will take you through the Convent of Christ, the Castle of Tomar (part of same compound).

Explore Batalha Monastery (XIV-XV century) is a true and unique masterpiece of European architecture (late Portuguese Gothic and Manueline style). You will be able to see the marvelous royal pantheon, the resting place of King D. João I and England born Queen D. Filipa de Lencastre and also and their famous offspring: they would be later described by Camões as the “Ínclita Geração”, the “Illustrous Generation”. They were immensely consequential to the history of the country- and the world. Among them, King D. João II and Henry the Navigator, two key actors in the Portuguese Discoveries around the world, which paved the way for Portugal to become the first global empire. 

The Monastery of Batalha was built to commemorate the decisive victory of the Portuguese in the Battle (“Batalha”) of Aljubarrota in 1386 against the Kingdom of Castille. It became a symbol of national independence and marked the beginning of a new era in the history of Portugal. 

Visit the Alcobaça Monastery, a place where eternal love is celebrated, as it is the resting place of Pedro and Inês- the protagonists of a tragic love story that could be called… a real life “Romeo and Juliet”. For centuries, they have been resting on two exquisite tombs, two gems of the XIV century, sculptures that is like a book to be read. 

Pedro was a prince whose lover, Inês, was brutally assassinated for political reasons. When Pedro became the King of Portugal, he made sure justice was served: he had the assassins killed and legend has it their hearts were taken out to make them pay for his broken heart. His beloved Inês was then crowned Queen of Portugal… after death!

Alcobaça Monastery was one of the most important centers in all of Europe of the Order of the Cistercians. They were led by Bernard of Claraval (later made “Saint Bernard”). A relative of the first king of Portugal, Bernard was a mystic, a religious reformer and a preacher that the hear of popes and kings and was one of the most influential personalities of XII century Europe. The Alcobaça monastery was the last new cistercian center he approved before passing away, putting his weight behind the cause of Portugal: fighting off the moors and becoming an internatonally recognized independent nation.  

“Pray and Work” was the motto of the Cistercians and they left something of a profane legacy in Alcobaça too: in farming (Alcobaça apples are the best of the country), in the famous ginjinha liqueur and also in their celebrated conventual pastry, which you will be able to taste after the tour.