The Almourol Castle It is one of Portugal's most iconic castles. Located on a small, rugged island in the middle of the Tagus River, this castle dates back to the Christian Reconquest.
The truth is that when Christians arrived in these lands in 1129, the castle already existed under the name of Almorolan, although the date of its construction and the roles it played until the Christian Reconquest are unknown. In 1171, restoration work was completed, and the castle took on a more military and Templar architecture.
Thus, it was handed over to the Order of the Knights Templar for several years and, after the order was dissolved, it was abandoned. In the 19th century, it was restored to the structure it occupies today.
How to visit Almourol Castle
The visit to Almourol Castle must be made by boat, with several options available. Although there are times when the river flow is low enough to cross on foot, this is not the way to do it, as it is prohibited.
In our case, we made the crossing with the company 'Tritejo – Passeios Turísticos Rio Tejo', and booked here by Welcome To. In the end, the ticket cost €10 (2021), and we were in a group of less than 10 people on a fully electric boat. Our “driver” told us a little about the castle on the way there and gave us enough time to explore it at our own pace. Although we only made the crossing with this company, Welcome To also offers guided tours.
However, some more affordable options have emerged in the meantime, organized by the Tancos Parish Council. The first departs from the pier next to the castle and costs €4, which includes a visit to the Almourol Templar Interpretation Center (CITA). The boat can carry up to 20 people. The second option departs from Cais D'El Rei, in Tancos, in boats with a capacity of up to 50 people, and costs €6 (up to 5 people), €5.5 (5 to 14 people) or €4 (15 people or more). Reservations for both options can be made through the Tancos Parish Council (jftancos@gmail.com or +351 249 712 094 or +351 962 625 678).
Visit the Almourol Castle
Regardless of your departure pier, you will be dropped off at the Almourol Castle pier. From here, follow a path that leads to a staircase. Please note that access is not possible for people with reduced mobility (at least at the time of our visit), as the terrain is uneven and, of course, there are more than 20 steps.
Climbing the stairs, we reached the path leading to the castle. This area had clearly been recently renovated and ran almost straight to the area surrounding the castle, where it became more uneven and stairs appeared again.
Arriving at the monument itself, and passing through the wall, we find a grand and imposing castle with an irregular layout and two floors. Looking around, the nine circular towers and the keep (originally with three floors) stand out, both elements of the renovation carried out by the Order of the Knights Templar.
The castle itself is divided into two floors, and we enter the upper floor, at the height of the wall and the nine towers. Continuing straight ahead and passing through an arch, we arrive at the base of the main tower. Climbing the staircase here, we reach the top of Almourol Castle and have a privileged view of the castle itself, its towers, and, of course, the surrounding area. It is possible to visit the entire castle, including climbing up to the wall, entering the towers, and seeing what remains of the keep.
Once you have finished exploring the castle, which usually takes about 45 minutes, follow the path back to the Almourol pier.
On the way back, be sure to look back to once again appreciate the beauty and grandeur of this monument built on an island in the middle of the Tagus River.
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