Learn about the most famous architectural monuments left behind by the Knights Templar
From the Syrian city of Arwad, to the citadel of Atlit on the Mediterranean coast, the Knights Templar left behind a number of buildings and architectural monuments, most of which still stand today.
Qal'at al-Hosn (or Knights' Fort in French) is one of the monuments left by the Knights Templar after their departure from the Middle East. Photo by Bernard Gagnon/Wikimedia Commons
The time of the Knights Templar may be long gone, but their relics linger throughout Europe and the Middle East, and you can still walk among the architectural masterpieces they once called “home.”
From Scotland and England to France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and beyond, you can admire a number of important sites built by the Knights Templar, and still standing to this day, bearing witness to the greatness of this brotherhood after seven hundred years of its disappearance.
Here are 10 of the best examples of buildings left by the Knights Templar:
1. Arwad city in Syria
This island was a stronghold of the Knights Templar, and it remained so until their withdrawal from the Middle East.
Arwad is home to a fortress that became the last stronghold of the Knights Templar, where Muslim forces completely destroyed the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem.
Arwad was the last part of the Holy Land under the control of the Crusaders, and it continued until the Crusaders retreated from the Middle East.
This fortress was a garrison for the Knights Templar forces, where about 120 knights, 500 archers and 400 Syrian workers gathered in the castle, awaiting the Mamluk invasion and the siege that would inevitably follow. When the Mamluks arrived, the forces sheltering in the citadel were eventually starved, and they had no choice but to surrender on the condition that the citadel's inhabitants flee to Christian lands. The Mamluks agreed, but the moment the Crusaders decided to leave the citadel, the Mamluks broke the treaty and massacred all the Syrian shooters and workers.
The knights were imprisoned in Cairo, and years later were subjected to starvation because they refused to abandon their sacred vows and leave their Christian religion. Arwad was the last part of the Holy Land to be abandoned by the Crusaders, and it continued to be so until they retreated from the Middle East at the end of the thirteenth century.
2. The city of La Rochelle in France
This city bears the fragrance of the Knights Templar era, as it was a major naval base for the organization.Photo Mister rown/Wikimedia Commons
The port of La Rochelle in western France was an important base for the Knights, as it was home to their main naval base. When Pope (Clement V) issued an order to dissolve the Templars and arrest their leaders, it is said that the fleet of ships that was used to transport the captain of the Templars (Jacques de Molay) to (La Rochelle) from Cyprus was used to transport a group of knights in secret, in addition to To large amounts of temple treasures safely away. And this wasn't the last time that tales of the organization's hidden treasures had surfaced after its dissolution.
Today we can see the remains of the Knights Templar in La Rochelle. The entrance to their headquarters can still be seen on the Rue des Knights, in the old town of La Rochelle. The original temple cross can still be seen on the wall, and the courtyard outside the entrance includes a large cross commemorating the city's Knights Templar era.
3. Almourol Castle in Portugal
The Portuguese government made great efforts to revive this castle again, and it became one of the popular tourist destinations in the country.Photo by Daniel Feliciano/Wikimedia Commons
In the middle of the Tagus River in central Portugal, the Almourol Castle stands tall as a relic of the Knights Templar. This castle was once part of the defensive chain of castles of the Knights Templar, as this chain of castles stretched across the central region of the country, which was built to coincide with the slow recovery of Portugal from the Moors (inhabitants of North Africa), the castle of Almourol still stands as an example of the strength of the group Knights Templar.
The importance of the castle faded with the gradual restoration of Portugal, and it was eventually abandoned. By the 19th century, the castle was in ruins. But the demise of such a trail is sad and unfortunate, so efforts have been made to restore its former glory. It is now a popular tourist destination, and today's tourists can walk on the same barricades that the Knights walked 700 years ago.
4. Atlit Castle in Israel
Remains of Atlit Castle on the Mediterranean coast, built in 1218.
Atlit Castle (or Chateau Peleran, which means Pilgrim's Castle) is located on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. The castle was built by a group of Knights Templar in 1218, and was a stronghold of the organization for more than seventy years until they abandoned it in 1291 after the fall of the city of Acre.
As a Crusader castle, it is surprising that it was not demolished after its capture by the Egyptian Mamluks, but rather held until a devastating earthquake severely damaged the castle in 1837, and it later became a stone quarry. Today, the huge Templar stronghold is closed to the public because it is located inside an Israeli military training area.
5. Christ Monastery in Portugal
This fortress within the monastery withstood the attacks of the Moors and Muslims, and was an important stronghold for the Knights Templar.
Located in the ancient Portuguese city of Tomar, the Monastery of Christ was once home to the Knights Templar until it was dissolved by order of Pope (Clement) in 1312. The monastery was an important stronghold for the Templars who controlled large swathes of central Portugal and vowed to defend the land if launched Moore attacked her.
An attack did take place in the year 1190, when the armies of the Caliph Abu Yusuf al-Mansur laid siege to the citadel. But the attack failed and the castle withstood. As for the round church of the monastery, it was designed in the style of the brotherhood of the temple, and signs can be found in this monastery indicating the presence of the knights in (Tomar).
6. San Servando Castle in Spain
It is one of the famous tourist destinations in Spain, and a group of legends and fairy tales revolve around this place.
The Knights Templar took over the management of this complex containing a monastery and castle in the Spanish city of Toledo in the 12th century to protect the Qantara Bridge - an important bridge along the Tagus River and was considered the main point of attack if the Moors moved to retake central Spain. When the threat of Muslim invasion subsided and the Knights Templar waned in 1312, the importance of the castle diminished and its condition deteriorated until it was cracked and damaged.
Tourists can visit the castle now and hear the story of Don Nuño Alvear, the stray knight who legend claims died when he saw a revelation about the miserable and tormented faces of the people he killed. The ghost of this knight is said to haunt the castle to this day, but it's just a legend anyway.
7. Cressing Temple in England
This temple in Essex county houses the oldest wood-framed barn in the world.
The Temple of Cresing was once the seat of one of the largest agricultural complexes of the Knights Templar in England, and later became their headquarters in Essex, and the money produced by these vast estates went to pay for the Templars' campaigns in the Middle East during the Crusades.
Most of the buildings captured by the Knights Templar are destroyed, as well as the palace. But Kresing Temple is still home to the Barley Barn, which was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century, and is the oldest wood-framed barn in the whole world.
8. Temple and Temple Church in London
One of the important complexes of the Knights Templar on the English island, where they conducted most of their business from this place.
The Temple District in London was the headquarters of the Knights Templar in England, but is now home to a large number of eminent lawyers, and the Temple Church was built in the 12th century from this very area. The church has expanded greatly since it was first built, but the circular and original church still stands, and now forms the expanded church loins.
The Knights Templar ran their affairs from the heart of this complex, and they also used the complex to store the money of the nobles, much to the chagrin of the kings who often tried to get the money. When the order was given to dissolve this organization, the council was handed over to the Knights Hospitaller. They leased two of the temple buildings to the lawyers, and from here grew the Inner and Middle Temples of London.
9. The Temple in Midlothian, Scotland
Rumors say that there are treasures hidden in this place that date back to the era of the Knights Templar.
On the banks of the River Esk, south of Edinburgh, lies the village and parish of the Temple, or Temple, as it is called in English. Where this “Temple” was the seat of the Order of the Knights in Scotland, and the village of Temple contains the ruins of the church in which the Knights Templar used to pray.
When the fraternity disintegrated in 1312, the Knights Templar treasure was smuggled out of France from Paris, taken to Temple in Scotland and buried there, according to rumours, of course.
10. Castello della Magione in Italy
Ownership of this complex passed after the collapse of the Knights Templar organization to another group known as the "Poor Knights of Christ".
Castello della Magione is located on the outskirts of the Tuscany town of Poggibonsi. At first glance, it becomes clear to the visitor that this castle is nothing but a rural and small agricultural complex, but if you look closely, you will notice that this complex includes a church and an inn dating back to the period when the Knights Templar used this complex to house pilgrims on their way to Rome.
The building is not clear if you look at it from the ground, but it takes a fortified shape if you look at it from the air, which is why it is called the castle. After the fall of the Knights Templar, the building passed to a number of personalities throughout history, and it is now home to a group affiliated with the Catholic Church known as the Poor Knights of Christ. The era of the Knights Templar may have ended long ago, but even today, the poor Knights of Christ worship their Lord in this synagogue church even after 700 years.
Source:websites