Almourol Castle, on an island in the Tagus

What it is and why it matters

Almourol Castle stands on a granite islet in the middle of the Tagus, in the municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha, about 25 km south of Tomar. When the Portuguese conquered the area in 1129 there was already a fortification here, Almorolã. The Order of the Temple rebuilt it during the 12th century and finished the works in 1171, under the master Gualdim Pais, the same man who founded Tomar. It was a piece of the Tagus defensive line during the Reconquista. It has been a National Monument since 1910 and was a finalist in the 7 Wonders of Portugal in 2007.

There is no bridge or footpath: you can only reach it by boat. That short crossing, with the castle growing ahead of you above the river, is half the visit.

What you see

You land at the foot of the islet and climb a stone path to the wall. Inside, a small enclosure with towers, wall-walks and the keep at the top. From above you see the Tagus in both directions, with both its banks. The castle visit itself is brief; what counts is the whole setting.

The ticket also includes the Almourol Templar Interpretation Centre (CITA), opened in 2018 in the Vila Nova da Barquinha Cultural Centre, which explains the history of the Templars in the region. It is in the town, not beside the castle, and has its own hours.

Crossing times

• March to September: 9:30 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:30.
• October to February: 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 17:00.

The last crossing leaves 40 minutes before each closing, morning and afternoon. If you arrive at 12:30, you will not cross until after lunch.

The visit depends on the river: if the Tagus is in spate or the weather is bad, crossings are suspended at any time. In the rainy season, check beforehand at the Vila Nova da Barquinha tourist point.

Price

• Aged 7 and over: €4 per person, with the CITA included.
• Up to 6 years: free.
• Former combatants and their widows or widowers, with their card: free.

The castle does not belong to Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, so its passes and free-entry schemes are not valid. Some guides give higher prices with the crossing included: confirm at the landing stage whether the boat is paid separately.

Getting there and where to board

From Tomar, take the A13 and the A23 towards Vila Nova da Barquinha and follow the signs to Almourol; it takes about 25 minutes. You board at the Cais de Almourol, directly opposite the castle, in boats of up to 20 people, with no advance booking. Groups of more than 20 have another option, the pleasure boat from the Cais d'El Rei, in Tancos, with compulsory booking at the Tancos parish council.

How long to allow

An hour including the wait, the crossing of a few minutes and the climb to the castle. If you add the CITA in Vila Nova da Barquinha, allow another hour.

With children

They love it: boat, castle on an island, towers. The path from the landing stage to the wall is steep with loose stones, and up top the wall-walks are not protected along their whole length: take them by the hand and wear closed shoes. You cannot go up with a pushchair; use a baby carrier. Under-6s do not pay.

To complete the day

Almourol fits with a morning in Tomar: the Convent of Christ in the morning and Almourol in the afternoon, or the other way round. That way you follow the Templar thread of Gualdim Pais from start to finish.