Convent of Christ
Convento de Cristo
The headquarters of the Knights Templar and later the Order of Christ, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its round Templar chapel and Manueline window.
The Convent of Christ is built within Tomar Castle. The round chapel, known as the Charola, was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century, modeled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and its interior walls are covered with gold-colored paintings and sculptures. Later generations expanded the complex with eight cloisters, a cathedral, and a long dormitory corridor. The Manueline window on the west façade is carved with ropes, corals, and nautical motifs, and it is a symbol of the Age of Discovery. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1983. Tickets cost about €15, and it is open roughly 09:00–18:30 (until 17:30 in winter). It closes on some public holidays, and a visit should allow 2 to 3 hours.
Opening hours
09:00–18:30 (Oct–May until 17:30)
Nearby sights
- Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes
- Tomar Castle
- Hermitage of Nossa Senhora da Conceição
- Tomar Synagogue
- Mouchão Park
- Rua Serpa Pinto & Old Town
- Match Museum
- Church of São João Baptista & Praça da República