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Convent of Christ

Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo)
Monastery (Mosteiro)
Tomar-Panorama-1967 08 02.jpg
A view of the Convent and Castle complex of Tomar
Official name: Convento de Cristo/Mosteiro de Cristo
Named for: Jesus Christ
Country  Portugal
Region Centro
Sub-region Médio Tejo
District Santarém
Municipality Tomar
Location Tomar (São João Baptista) e Santa Maria dos Olivais
 - elevation 11 m (36 ft)
 - coordinates 39°36′14″N 8°25′9″W / 39.60389°N 8.41917°W / 39.60389; -8.41917Coordinates: 39°36′14″N 8°25′9″W / 39.60389°N 8.41917°W / 39.60389; -8.41917
Styles Manueline, Plateresque, Renaissance
Origin 1160
 - Initiated 12th century
 - Completion 16th century
Owner Portuguese Republic
For public Public
Easiest access Terreiro de Gualdim Pais
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Name Convent of Christ in Tomar
Year 1983 (#7)
Number 265
Region Europe and North America
Criteria i, vi
Management Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico
Status National Monument
Listing Decree 10 January 1907, DG, Série I, 14 (17 January 1907); Decree 16 June 1910, DG, Série, 136 (23 June 1910); ZEP/Zona "non aedificandi", Dispatch Série II, 265 (14 November 1946); UNESCO World Heritage Site (1983)

The Convent of Christ (Portuguese: Convento de Cristo/Mosteiro de Cristo) is a former Roman Catholic convent/monastery in the civil parish of Tomar (São João Baptista) e Santa Maria dos Olivais, in the Centrol region municipality of Tomar. Originally a 12th-century Templar stronghold, when the order was dissolved in the 14th century the Portuguese branch was turned into the Knights of the Order of Christ, that later supported Portugal's maritime discoveries of the 15th century. The Convent and Castle complex is a historic and cultural monument which was listed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage list in 1983.

The convent was founded by the Order of Poor Knights of the Temple (or Templar Knights) in 1118. Its construction continued until the final part of the 12th century with the construction of the oratory, in one of the angles of the castle, completed by the Grand Master D. Gualdim Pais (sometime around 1160). Around 1190 it was encircled and resisted the armies of caliph Abu Yusuf al-Mansur who was successful in taking strongholds in the south. (A plaque was erected near the entrance to the castle to commemorate this event).

During the second quarter of the 13th century, Tomar was transferred into the control of the Templars, becoming its seat. The castle became an integral part of the defence system created by the Templars to secure the border of the young Christian Kingdom against the Moors, which at the time occupied the area to approximately the Tagus River. But, following the dissolution of the Templar Order, on 14 March 1319, and following the request of King Denis of Portugal, Pope John XXII instituted the Order of Christ. The seat of the former Knights Templar was converted in 1357 into the seat of this new order.


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