Almourol Castle
Castelo de Almourol
A Knights Templar castle on a small island in the middle of the Tagus River, surrounded by water on all sides. Visitors must take a small boat to reach it, and it is one of Portugal's most photogenic castles.
Almourol Castle stands on a granite islet in the middle of the Tagus River. It was rebuilt in 1171 by Gualdim Pais on the foundations of a Roman and Moorish fortress and served as a stronghold of the Knights Templar, who used it to guard the “Tagus Line.” Its walls and ten round towers remain intact today. Visitors take a small boat from the jetty near Praia do Ribatejo on the south bank; the crossing takes about 5 minutes. Boat and entry tickets together cost about €5, and you can climb the keep for views over the river. The castle is about 20 km from Tomar, roughly 25 minutes by car, and can be combined with a visit to the village of Constância.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–13:00 and 14:30–19:00 (until 17:30 in winter); closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Castelo do Bode Reservoir
- Match Museum
- Church of Santa Maria do Olival
- Church of São João Baptista & Praça da República
- Tomar Synagogue
- Rua Serpa Pinto & Old Town
- Levada de Tomar Cultural Complex
- Tomar Castle