In a dominant position on a hill on the right bank of the Tagus river, formerly constituting the call Tagus Line, currently part of the Tourism Region of the Templars.

At the time of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, in 1118 or 1148, the town was conquered from the Moors by the forces of Afonso Henriques (1112-1185), which determined its reconstruction of the defenses. The defense needs of the call Tagus line, appreciated his site, at a time when the Templar Order endowed the middle reaches of the river an impressive defensive line, which signed up. Resisted thus harassment of the forces of the Caliphate under the Almohad Abem Jacob command, which had to withdraw suffering heavy casualties. In reward for this heroic deed, received the sovereign your Foral Charter (1179). Under the reign of Sancho I (1185-1211), a new siege Almohad under the Caliph Abu Yusuf Ya’qub command al-Mansur, was repeated in 1191, a time when all Christian conquests were lost in territories South of the River Tagus, with the exception of the city of Évora.

Later, D. Afonso III (1248-1279) gave it major improvements on defense, started in 1250 and completed between 1300 and 1303, during the reign of King Dinis (1279-1325), highlighting the Keep tower and the expansion of the walls. This monarch donated the town to his wife, Isabel of Aragon, passing, thereafter, to integrate the assets of the queens of Portugal.

At the time of the 1383-1385 crisis lined up next to the Master of Avis forces, praying the tradition that was in this castle that took the decision to fight the troops of Castile in Aljubarrota.

Under the reign of King Manuel (1495-1521), the village received the Foral New (1510).

In the second half of the sixteenth century, Abrantes Castle fell into decay, particularly during the Philippine Dynasty.

At the time of Independence of Portugal, before advancing to the South of the Portuguese forces under the command of King D. Afonso Henriques (1112-1185), the castle was conquered, in March 15, 1147, by surprise in an assault night. On occasion, the sovereign donated all ecclesiastical law of the village to the Knights Templar.

“In the name of the Holy Trinity, Father. Son and Holy Spirit. I, Alfonso, by the grace of God, King of Portugal, beginning my journey to the castle, called Santarém, I proposed in my heart, and I vote, that God by his hand mercy granted, would offer all ecclesiastical law and the riders and most religious of Solomon’s Temple, residing in Jerusalem in defensão of the Holy Sepulchre, some of whom accompanied me in this company. And because the Lord made me so great mercy that deducted prosperous end my desire, so I, Afonso, aforesaid king, with my wife the Queen Mafalda, make donation to the nominated riders of all ecclesiastical law of Santarém, so the have and have thus they and their successors forever, so do not entremeta it any secular or ecclesiastical person.

Made this scripture in April of 1185 was in 1147 of the Christian era.

In terms of historiography, an important documentary source on the robbery Santarém is the manuscript “De expugnatione Scalabis”, written by monks of the Monastery of Santa Cruz Coimbra to mark the achievement of the sovereign.

The town and its castle were in the path of the Almohad caliph onslaught of Abu Ya’qub Yusuf I, being attacked in 1171. The Muslim forces at the time, were dispersed by the troops of Fernando II of Leon, son of D. Afonso Henriques which at the time was in Santarém. A new Muslim attack materializes in 1181, lying in the city the Prince Sancho, and the assailants retreated before a counteroffensive of defenders.

The defenses of Santarém were severely damaged by the earthquake in 1531.

It is next to the Tower of Calabash, in the historic city center and is one of its most emblematic monuments. This temple, probably the best example of Romanesque art in the South (ie in the area south of the Borders region), dates from the twelfth century and belonged to the Knights Hospitaller.

In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the church implemented a monastic complex located along the Alpram or Alporão door, which was called the Monastery of St. John’s Hospital, which is thought that one of the functions of the temple next door would have been to protect military access to the city by next spring and guard the entrance of Jews in the city, according to the rules established between Christians and that ethnic minority. The primitive set convent, left, next to the southern facade, some traces of a cloister and houses a small monastery.

The foundation of this temple is due, in fact, the Order of St. John’s Hospital, whose attachment to the village then occurred between 1159 and 1185. The exact period of construction of the church is unknown, although not remain doubt occurred in the past decades of the twelfth century.

Characterized by the fertility of its soil, the abundance of pastures and the beauty of its countryside markedly, Golegã retains the traditional Portuguese architecture. According to several authors, the Golegã Village originated in the time of King Afonso Henriques and Sancho I, when a woman’s natural Galicia and lived in Santarém came settle down with an inn on this site. Golegã that already existed in the fifteenth century, it seems beyond doubt, and after having established it said Galician, having spent its name to Sale of the Galician, the Galician Varzim, Vila of the Galician language and later by corruption “Golegã”.

Horse Fair in Golegã

In 1571, begins the current Fair St. Martin Golegã today also National Horse Fair and International Fair Lusitano Horse. From 1833, and with the support of the Marquis of Pombal, the show began to take an important competitive nature, performing equestrian competitions and different races competitions. The best horse breeders were concentrated then in Golegã. In the mid-eighteenth century, had its beginning the Fair of Golegã, called until 1972 Fair St. Martin, the date from which came to be called the National Horse Fair. It is the National Horse Fair the most important and most Castiça of all fairs of its kind taking place in Portugal and worldwide. Here we present all breeders, with its beautiful specimens, which is why we transact in Golegã Thoroughbreds best created in the country, which are sold to many parts of the world, the most important national event Equestrian and the largest warehouse Commercial Lusitano, recognized worldwide.

Golegã became the capital of the horse. The day of St. Martin of Fair, which was traditionally the day November 11, went to be more beautiful and unique public equestrian show performs the free level between us. The testing program is very extensive and varied: Ralies, Raids, Equestrian Games, Championships, Carriages Marathon, Views, are some of the finest performances in Golegã take place in his presentation of the horse. And to complement party justifying the popular adage that “At Saint Martin taste the wine,” there are plenty of water-walking and the roasted chestnuts.

Erected a granite outcrop to 18 m above sea level, on a small island 310 m long by 75 m wide in the middle reaches of the Tagus river, just below its confluence with the river Zêzere, at the time of the Reconquista integrated call Tagus line, current Tourism Region of the Templars. Is one of the most representative examples of military architecture of the time, simultaneously evoking the early days of the kingdom of Portugal and the Templar Order, association that reinforces the aura of mystery and romance. With the extinction of the Temple Almourol castle becomes part of the heritage of the Order of Christ (which was the successor in Portugal of the Knights Templar).

The building was built in the early twentieth century, bears the signature of the architect Raul Lino and brings together important works of painting (Master Francisco Henriques, Josefa de Obidos), sculpture (Flemish School of the sixteenth century), furniture and ceramics, among other collections.

Closing days: Mondays, Holidays
Visiting hours: From April to September, from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00; October to March, from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00.
By appointment: Yes, for large groups. (Tel: 243 559 100)

More information:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Casa-dos-Patudos-Museu-de-Alpiar%C3%A7a/318070581554575?sk=timeline

In a dominant position on the medieval village and the creek Seiça, is considered one of the most beautiful Portuguese castles.

At the time of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula, the region incorporated the areas of Portugal, the place names of Portus Auren or Portum Ourens is mentioned as a term of Leiria, in the Charter of last Foral to this village in 1142. This place names also part of the donation document Wax Castle to the Knights Templar (1159), and a Bishop of the document from Lisbon to D. Afonso Henriques on a territorial dispute with the Templars (1167). It is believed, therefore, that the early settlement was located in one of the fords of the Seiça river, probably somewhere between the current Sabacheira and Seiça.

The old Muslim fortification must have been rebuilt in the early days of the monarchy, since the first reference to a triangular plant castle on the hill top dates back to 1178.

The master the low and predominantly white houses is a medieval tower, thought to have been built by the Knights Templar to guard the deep valley of the Zêzere. The foundation of the village dates back to the twelfth century and is linked to the emergence of a miraculous image of Our Lady of Tears. The first church was built by Queen Isabel (daughter of the King of Aragon and wife of King Dinis Portuguese) at the end of the thirteenth century, replaced by a larger in the fifteenth century. The pilgrimage of Our Lady of Tears is made on 15 August and attracts large crowd.

Places of Interest

The pentagonal tower built by the Templars;

The Church, 1285, rebuilt in 1453, with statue of the Virgin, N. Lady of the Weeping, houses processional cross of silver, with ornaments of the Renaissance; Chapel St.º Anthony, with panoramic views of the mountains Gardunha and Lousã.