Convent of Christ

Tomar

The Convent of Christ in Tomar, Portugal, was originally built as a fortress by the Knights Templar in the 12th century.

After the Order of the Templars was dissolved in the 14th century, the King of Portugal, D. Dinis, converted the complex into a convent for the Order of Christ, a military and religious order that was created to succeed the Templars in Portugal.

The Convent of Christ in Tomar is a notable example of Gothic and Renaissance architecture in Portugal and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex includes the convent church, the charola (a circular chapel), the main cloister, the cloister of João III, the chapel of São Miguel, the sacristy, and other rooms and corridors.

Today, the Convent of Christ is an important tourist destination in Portugal and is visited by thousands of people every year who come to admire its architectural beauty and learn more about the history of the Templars and the Order of Christ.