Tucked into the center of Portugal, the medieval town of Tomar guards one of the country’s most jaw-dropping secrets: a sprawling Templar fortress turned UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal has stood since the late 12th century, and walking through it feels like flipping through eight centuries of history in a single afternoon. Here’s everything you need to know before you go, what to expect, how to get there, and what not to miss inside.
Quick History of the Convent of Christ
Founded by Gualdim Pais, Grand Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal in 1160, the Knights Templar castle and the Convento de Cristo was built as a defence against Moorish invasions. Once King Afonso Henriques led the Reconquista against the Moors, he recognised the strategic importance of the region and granted the land to the Order of the Knights Templar.
After the dissolution of the Templars in 1312, Portugal’s King Dinis incorporated a new order to replace the templars and renamed the monastery the Convent of the Order of Christ. The monastery became headquarters for the Order of Christ in the early 14th century.
This order was also quite influential in the 15th and 16th centuries providing financial and military support in maritime discoveries, territories and colonies and funding expeditions to Brazil and Africa.
Throughout the centuries, kings have laid their mark upon the complex. Prince Henry the Navigator built the washing and cemetery cloisters and planned his expeditions during the Age of Discoveries here.
King Manuel I (also a grand master of the order of Christ) remodelled parts of the monastery and added many architectural aspects such as the Manueline designs. Even the King of Spain, Phillip II commissioned the Pegões Aqueduct that provided water to the entire complex.
When all religious orders were abolished in 1834, the properties of the Order of Christ became property of the state of Portugal. It is no longer a functioning convent or monastery but provides Portugal and Tomar with money from tourism.
How to get there and what you need to know about Tomar and the Convent of Christ
Tomar is located in central Portugal along the Nabão River and the easiest way to get there is by car. It is possible to go to Tomar as a day trip from Coimbra.
Private Tours as Transportation
The best way to get there is by tour bus/van, however, most will combine it with other places.
For example, You can get one from Lisbon that takes you to Alcobaça and Batalha, and Óbidos (one of our favorite cities). It is a long day trip, but so much history and architecture.
There is also a Knights Templar tour that includes Almourol Castle as well as Tomar and Convent of Christ. We have been to the castle and loved it. It is mainly a ruin on an island but the views were amazing!
Viator does a trip from Lisbon and will also take you to Óbidos and Nazaré.
You can get a private tour to meet you at the convent, if you are driving yourself. These tours will offer you the most information and are often the most entertaining.
We also recommend a walking tour of Tomar which will give you the history of the city as well as the Castle and Convent.
If you are looking to rent a car, you may want to read our post on renting a car in Portugal.
How long to tour the Convent of Christ?
This monastery is the most expansive one we have been in so far and we have visited 3 others: Batalha, Alcobaça, and Jerónimos. It is vast and will probably take about 3 hours to go though. We were there around 2 and did not see everything.
There is a cafe inside and 2 stores, one with swords and knights templar souvenirs and the other that has more books and pottery for sale. The bathrooms are located close to the exit. I highly suggest you go before your tour. I speak from experience.
Tickets and Maps for the Convent of Christ
Tickets are €15 and can be purchased at the museum or online. If they are available, purchase a map. There are maps all over but it will be easier if you have one. Plus, they have been doing renovations (as of June 2026) so check to see what areas are available for viewing.
Hours are all days from 9-6 in the summer and 9-5 in the winter. They are closed some holidays so check their website.
Tour of the Convent of Christ, Portugal
Once you climb the stairs and pay your ticket to enter, you go through a short hall that has a model of the monastery and a few artifacts on display. Follow the signs toward the cloisters first.
Walk through the New Sacristy which was the chapter house of Prince Henry to the cloisters outside. Note, there are 2 cloisters here, the claustro da lavagem (washing cloister) and the cemetery cloister (claustro do cemitério) the burial site for the knights and monks and has a view of the tower and round chapel. You can walk around these areas and enjoy the view, see the ruins of the templar castle connected to the convent and imagine what life was like here during the 12th century.
The Charola (Round Church)
As you go back towards the entrance, you follow a hall down to the Charola or round church. Nothing really prepares you for what you are about to see.
This unique design is one of the reasons why the Convent of Christ is considered such an important example of Templar architecture. The round nave, known as the “Charola,” is one of the most distinctive features of the complex and a prime example of Romanesque architecture in Portugal.
Inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, this nave is built in circular form representing perfection and eternity in Christian symbolism which are Templar beliefs. The altar in the middle makes worship more centralised. The round shape was also built for defensive capabilities since it is somewhat harder to hide in a circular room.
We took our time walking around this awe inspiring piece of architecture.
It’s really hard to capture this massive church with just a few pics. To see it all, scroll to the bottom of the post or click here for the YouTube video.
The Manueline Chapter House Window
Once you have had your fill of the Charola, make sure you walk around to check out the Manueline nave and the inside of the chapter house. However, the famous Manueline style chapter house window is best seen outside on the balcony.
Great Hall, Kitchens, & the Aqueduct
After you have marvelled at the windows for a moment, wandering about the convent is easy. Since we did not have a map, we had to follow signs from place to place.
We saw the great hall and kitchens which we followed around another cloister to the cafe.
We walked outside this area to a patio where the gardens used to be and saw the aqueduct (and for some reason, seeing one of these never get’s old!).
The Cloisters: Washing, Cemetery, & Main Cloister
We walked through several other cloisters, one being the main cloister built by João III, designed by João de Castilho. He also designed cloisters at Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon.
If you follow the signs and don’t get too lost, you will eventually find your way back to the gift shop, restrooms and another room that gives you a history of the convent. You exit on the ground floor which makes getting to the car easier.
The Convent of Christ is definitely our most loved monastery so far. You can wander for hours in this place and not see it all, which is one reason we will definitely go back.
Exploring more of Portugal’s monasteries?
Don’t miss our guide to the Batalha Monastery, another UNESCO site just down the road, or browse our full regional guide to Portugal’s monasteries and convents to plan a multi-stop history trip.
If you want to hear more about our trip to Batalha and the Convent of Christ, check out our Podcast! Check out our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Youtube.
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Shelley is a full-time traveler, writer, and podcaster based in Portugal, where she lives with her wife and their beloved bulldog, Scoot. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Shelley is a former history teacher who swapped the classroom for cobblestone streets and passport stamps. These days, she explores Portugal and Europe in search of fascinating stories, unforgettable sights, and local flavor—then shares it all through her blog and podcast, Wandering Works for Us, where curiosity meets adventure (and sometimes wine).