- Belver town
- Tejo
Tejo as seen from Belver at sunset. - Belver castle
Further up the river there is another casle: Belver. Unfortunately there was a heavy storm and the castle closed early. - The keep
The keep is, according to Wikipedia, an innovation at this castle, appearing in the 12th century after the Castle of Tomar, the principal defensive redoubt of the Templars in Portugal. - Almourol castle
The castle was built under Gualdim Pais, a crusader, Knight Templar and the founder of Tomar. - Almourol castle
This is a popular spot: Lusitanians, Romans, Alans, Visigoths, Andalusian Berbers, Templars ... - Tejo
Tejo river as seen from the top of the three-storey high keep. - Almourol castle
E M CC VIIII Magister Gaudinus, Bracara que est caput Gallece ortus edificavit hoc castrum Almorel cum fratribus suis... The 1209 is now 1171. And the Master was Gualdim Pais from Braga, the Grand Master of Knights Templar. - Almourol castle
The castle was built on an islet and is accessible by boat only. - Almourol castle
The Almourol castle was part of the defensive line controlled by the Knights Templar, and a stronghold used during the Portuguese Reconquista. - Tejo
River Tejo (Tagus) with its 1000 km is the longest river on the Iberian peninsula. - Charola - the round Templar church
The Charola from the outside - Aqueduct
I love how the aqueduct (1597) is incorporated into the building. - Convento de Cristo
The view from the castle walls. - Baker's oven
- The kitchen
- Refectory
The refectory was build in 1535-1536. - A dragon?
This poor creature was slain by Saint George, so it's probably some kind of a dragon. - Holy Trinity
- Holy Trinity
- The Virgin and Child
Yup, very realistic statues. I have no idea how it escaped being ... dressed ... in the following centuries. - The Virgin and Child
Gothic depictions of Virgin Mary were quite realistic. - The Virgin and Child
There was an exhibition of Gothic statues and I havve no idea why Baby Jesus is stabbing Mary in the heart... - Noviciate
The Noviciate was completely separated from the rest of the Convent. - Janela do Capítulo
Incredible details in the window decoration. - Claustro da Hospedaria
This Hosterly Cloister was a place for visitors. - Manueline design
The Manueline ornaments are just insanely beautiful. - Janela do Capítulo
The famous Manueline Window of the Chapter House (1510-1513) is best seen from the Saint Barbara Cloister. The human figure in the bottom of the window probably represents the designer, Diogo de Arruda. - Claustro Principal
Every cloister is different, this 16th century (1557-1591) Main Cloister was built in Renaissance style. It is also called Claustro de D. João III, cloister of John III. - Claustro Principal
The Main cloister was built in the 16th century and is considered a masterpiece of European Renaissance inspired by Italian architecture. - Manueline design
Ooooh, I love the Manueline design. Especially the belt/garter around the tower. - Details in the nave
Manueline details in the church nave - Charola - the round Templar church
The round church as seen from the nave - Charola - the round Templar church
Wonderful pained walls - 12th and 16th century meet
The arch that connects the 12th century Charola and the early 16th century nave. - Organ pipe
A giant organ pipe (75 cm in diameter and 11,5 m tall) is all that is left of a 16-century organ. - Charola - the round Templar church
- Charola - the round Templar church
The gothic/manueline sculptures and paintings were added by King Manuel I. - Charola - the round Templar church
- Charola - the round Templar church
I'm not a fan of gold, but these painted walls are just magnificent. - Charola - the round Templar church
This Templar church was built in the late 12th century and is inspired by the Temple in Jerusalem. Fresco and secco paintings as well as the carved woodwork was added later, in 1510-1515 under King Manuel. - Sacristia Nova
The New Sacristy (under Prince Henry the old Chapter House) was built by Francisco Lopes in the late 16th century. The vaulted ceiling is from the time of the Spanish Philips and shows a cross, the armillary sphere and the royal arms. - Claustro do Cemitério
The Gothic Cloister of the Cemetery was built in the 15th century under Henry the Navigator. One of the tombs is of Diogo da Gama, the brother of Vasco. - Claustro da Lavagem
This two-storey Gothic cloister built in 1426-1453 under Henry the Navigator was used for washing the garments. - Unfinished Chapels
The insane amount of details on the finished part compared to the ... well ... unfinished part is just crazy. - Tomb
- Capelas Imperfeitas
The Unfinished Chapels, obviously :-) The octagonal rotunda, which has seven radiating hexagonal chapels, was commissioned in 1437 by King Edward, Dom Duarte. - Portal
Magnificent Manueline architecture - Portal
The portal from 1509 is (one of?) the oldest example of Manueline architecture, built by Mateus Fernandes. It is a homage of King Manuel I to his predecessor King Edward and the motto "Leauté faray tam yaserei (I will always be loyal)" is written over two hundred times. - Portal
Portal leading to the Unfinished Chapels was originally built in Gothic style, but was transformed "beyond recognition" in 1509 into Manueline style. - Unfinished Chapels
The Unfinished Chapels and the tombs of Dom Duarte (Eduard, d.1438) and his queen Eleanor of Aragon (d. 1445). - Claustro D. Afonso V.
- Claustro D. Afonso V.
The dormitory cells - Claustro D. Afonso V.
More carvings... - Claustro D. Afonso V.
Some rather ... strange ... carvings on the dormitory walls. - Claustro D. Afonso V.
The second cloister was built in the 15th century as the Royal Cloister and dormitory didn't suit the Dominicans. This one with individual rooms was built in a plain Gothic style and the original Dormitorium was used as a wine cellar. - Gargoyle souvenir
A souvenir you can buy in Batalha Monastery Shop in the form of one of their many gargoyles. - Dormitory
Entrance to the original Dormitory in the Royal Cloister - Claustro Real
- Claustro Real
- Claustro Real
- Claustro Real
The Royal Cloister is 50x50 m². The south and east wings were built by one architect (Afonso Domingues) and the north and west wings by another (Huguet). - Claustro Real
The Royal Cloistre and the church - Dormitory
Original Dormitory window. The room was later used as a wine cellar. - The Chapterhouse
The Chapterhouse (Sala do Capitulo) with the Unknown Soldier Tomb. It is a 19x19 m² square room with a star vault lacking a central support. According to Wikipedia, this was such a daring concept at the time that condemned prisoners were used to perform the task. It was completed after two failed attempts... - Claustro Real
The Royal Cloister was built between 1448 and 1477. - Mosteiro da Batalha
The nave of the church. The Monastery took very long to build, starting in 1386 and "ending" in 1517 - or rather never! - Capela do Fundador
Wonderful Gothic architecture in the Founders' Chapel. - Capela do Fundador
The outer square and the inner octagonal architecture represents the symbiosis between local Gothic and English perpendicular style, as King João married Philippa of Lancaster. - Capela do Fundador
The Founders' Chapel was built between 1426 and 1434. - Prince Henry the Navigator's omb
One of the many tombs is the Founder's Chapel. In the middle, there is a joint tomb of King John I of Portugal (d.1433) and his wife Philippa of Lancaster (d.1415). Around are the tombs of his sons, including this one, the tomb of Henry the Navigator (d. 1460). - Tomb of King João II
King João II, also called the Perfect Prince (Príncipe Perfeito), died in 1495. - Capela do Fundador
One of the stained glass window - Mosteiro da Batalha
A wonderful Gothic nave - Tomb of Mateus Fernandes (d. 1515)
Mateus Fernandes was one of the architects of the Monastery and started the Manueline style. - Mosteiro da Batalha
Batalha probably had the first workshop for stained-glass windows in Portugal. The oldest windows are from the 1430s. - Mosteiro da Batalha
- Convento de Cristo
The Convent of Christ was originally founded by the Templar Knights in 1118 and in 1319 fell under the Order of Christ. The 16-side polygonal church was built in the 12th century... Now that is old. - Claustro do Cemitério
The tiles are from the 16th century. - Portocarreiros Chapel
They had one job ... This chapel was built in 1626 by Antonio Portocarreiro, his wife and children.