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Mature Flâneur
Stronghold of the Templars
Tomar Castle, Portugal was once their headquarters
If you’ve read The Da Vinci Code or indulged in pretty much any historical conspiracy theory, you’ve heard of the Knights Templar. In fact, you probably have a mental picture of what they looked like: white robes emblazoned with a large red cross over gleaming heavy armour — the archetypal image of the warrior-monk, fighting Holy Wars in the name of God.
Officially named the “Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon,” the Order was founded during the Crusades to protect pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. Somehow they ended up with their headquarters in Portugal, aiding the Portuguese in creating Europe’s first global empire. Talk about mission creep!
I learned their story during my most recent trip to Portugal when Teresa (my beloved Portuguese spouse) and I discovered we were staying thirty minutes from the castle that was the Templars’ headquarters in Tomar, between Lisbon and Porto. We hadn’t planned on learning about the Templars on this trip. But, we had the afternoon free. So, why not check it out?
