Keep Tower

Category: Military Architecture > Tower

District: Santarém > Tomar > Tomar > São João Baptista e Santa Maria dos Olivais

Location

The Keep Tower stands in the city of Tomar, imposing on top of the hill where the fortified complex is located, in the area corresponding to the parish of São João Baptista and Santa Maria dos Olivais. Its elevated position grants it a watchman status over the surrounding landscape, offering a dominant perspective over the city and the course of the Nabão river. This location allows for an understanding of the tower's strategic importance in the defense of the territory.

Templar Origins

This striking tower is a fundamental element in the history of Tomar Castle and in Portugal's military architecture. Erected in 1160, under the direction of Gualdim Pais, Master of the Order of the Temple, it represents the first keep tower to be built on Portuguese soil by the Knights Templar. Its construction was not only a feat of defensive engineering but also a powerful symbol of the Order's presence and influence during the Christian Reconquista.

Architecture and Defensive Function

Tomar's Keep Tower is a remarkable example of Romanesque military architecture. It features a quadrangular plan and a robustness designed for defense. Its thick walls and few openings, originally narrow arrowslits, reflect its primary function as a fortification. Characteristically, the main entrance of the tower was located on an elevated floor, accessible only by wooden stairs that could be easily removed in case of attack, making it an exceptionally secure point of defense.

The Last Redoubt and Symbolism

Within the castle complex, the keep tower played the role of the ultimate point of resistance in the face of a siege. It was the final refuge for the defenders, a 'castle within the castle'. Additionally, in Portugal, the keep tower was intrinsically linked to royal administration: it was at this location that the 'alcaide', the military governor of the castle, rendered his 'homage', a solemn oath of fidelity to the king. Thus, the tower transcends its military function, embodying a deep symbolic value of loyalty and sovereignty.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt