Castle of the Templars, Tomar

Tomar Castle is a castle in Portugal, where it is classified as a national monument. The Convento de Cristo was built within its walls.
The castle was built by King Afonso Henriques around 1160 in a strategic location, on a hill and near the Nabão River. It has an external defensive wall and a citadel (alcáçova) with a tower inside. The keep, a central tower with residential and defensive functions, was introduced into Portugal by the Templars, and that of Tomar is one of the oldest in the country. Another innovation introduced into Portugal by the Templars (learned from decades of experience in Normandy and Brittany and elsewhere) are the round towers in the outer walls, which are more resistant to attack than the square towers. When the city was founded, most of its inhabitants lived in homes located within the castle's protective outer walls.