Inside Portugal’s Remarkable Templar Legacy

Portugal’s round church in Tomar offers a striking glimpse into the world of the Knights Templar. The Charola, a richly decorated 16-sided structure, was designed so armoured knights could attend Mass without dismounting. Built eight centuries ago, its form echoes Jerusalem’s round churches. For a scholar teaching and studying in Germany, the site also connected deeply with questions first encountered through Urdu literature about the Crusades, creating a powerful sense of encountering history firsthand.