Page:Lisbon and Cintra, Inchbold, 1907.djvu/250

Rh Now we are at the foot of the historic hill which is crowned by "the most national, characteristic and patriotic of Portuguese architectural works, one of the most splendid and rich models bequeathed by the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries." To the left of the Paço do Concelho a calçada climbs in a broad zigzag up the steep ascent to the old fortifications of the Templars, which have defied the attacks of time for seven centuries. Bastions crown the walls, and before the principal tower the remains of an ancient barbican are visible. We pass beneath the noted gateway into a gardened space, and leaving the ruined castle on the left look straight where the powerful Roman-built walls and massive buttresses of the Templars' chapel raise their battlements against the azure. The edifice is polygon in form, and a bell-tower of later date rises above, but closely built upon it, so as to appear part of the same structure. On mounting the steps to the terrace before the entrance we see the inscription engraven on a stone in the wall to the right. The translation runs after this manner:

"In the year 1168, in the reign of Alfonso, King of Portugal, Galdino, Master of the Portuguese Knights Templars, began with his brethren on the 1st day of March to build the Castle called Thomar, which when finished was offered by the King and God to the Knights Templars. In 1228, on the 3rd day of July, the King of Morocco came with 400,000 cavalry and 500,000 footmen to besiege the castle for six days, and destroyed all that he found outside the walls. God delivered the Castle, its Master and brethren from his hands. The same King returned to his country with innumerable loss of men and beasts."

This siege of Thomar Castle, one of the most celebrated in the annals of the struggles between the 188