Sitting on the Lago Azul, in the center of Portugal, is the hamlet of Dornes. This small town was founded in the 13th century by the Knights Templar to protect the Zêzere River after the Moors were evicted from the area.
Dornes is best known for its pentagonal tower. In 1206 the land in this area was donated to the Templars by Pedro Afonso, son of King Afonso. The Templars built a tower to help defend the area. Over the centuries the tower was used as a burial site for some of the knights, and then as a bell tower for the adjacent church.
The Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Pranto (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Tears) is the main church for Dornes. The original building was constructed at the same time as the tower, and the current sanctuary was built in 1453. When I visited, the church staff and volunteers were preparing the altar and nave to celebrate The Feast of the Assumption.
Dornes is a place that locals come to to spend time on the water, boating, and swimming. Afterwards, there are several good restaurants in town. We ate at O Rio, a wonderful place with a balcony that overlooked the lake. They serve delicious food, focusing on locally produced meat and fish dishes.
Dornes is 12 KM (8 miles) north of Ferreira do Zêzere, a great place to spend the day if you are in the area.
