Gift idea for Templar enthusiasts

In the Middle Ages, the Order of the Temple wove a dense network of commanderies across Europe, forming an unprecedented logistical, economic and spiritual network. These establishments, far more than mere farms or monasteries, were the pillars of the Templar infrastructure.
Each commandery, headed by a commander, managed farmland, workshops, mills and chapels. They were used to finance campaigns in the Holy Land, recruit and train brothers, and welcome pilgrims and travelers. Their location, often along trade routes or near urban centers, ensured the Order's strategic presence in the territory.
This territorial network, structured into provinces and baillies, prefigured a form of proto-state organization, with centralized management and local autonomy. The commanderies were thus the sinews of a network that combined faith, warfare and economics.
Illustration: Commanderie de La Couvertoirade, Aveyron, night view (long exposure); photo: Philippe Contal, July 2022