A sleepy town waiting to be discovered
Located in central Portugal, Tomar is a city of great charm with lots to offer visitors and residents. It’s home to the long preserved Tomar Castle and Convent of Christ which boasts ornate medieval architecture and deep rooted history.
Surrounded by the National Forest of Seven Hills, Tomar is also divided by the Nabão River. Offering a relaxed yet welcoming spirit to its narrow-cobbled town and mosaictiled gardens. Mouchão Park has a wooden water wheel evoking the time when mills, oil presses and farmland along the river all contributed to Tomar’s economic prosperity. The Tomar region has a wealth of artistic talent through a long history of crafts including ceramics, embroidery and weaving. The town includes some of the oldest café where the delights of the local pastries can be appreciated: almond and squash queijadas (cheese cakes) and the traditional Fatias de Tomar (Tomar slices) made with just egg yolks and cooked in a bain-marie in a very special pot, invented by a local tinsmith in the mid-20th century.
Tomar also hosts the Festival dos Tabuleiros (Festival of Trays), every four years. Dating back to the 1300s this festival transforms the town into a colourful stage for celebrations. Women carrying baskets of bread and flowers parade the streets, with plenty of dancing, drinking and Portuguese cuisine.
