Cabo da Roca - The Westernmost Point of Europe

Located more than 40 km from the capital Lisbon (Portugal), Cabo da Roca is rated by travel experts as one of the 50 most worth-visiting places in the world . Cabo da Roca, a coastal area in Portugal, is the westernmost point of Portugal and also the westernmost point of Europe.

The westernmost landmark of Europe.

Because of its special geographical significance, this cape is famous for travelers who are passionate about conquering the ends of the world.

Unlike the westernmost point of Vietnam, the road to the westernmost point of Europe is quite convenient. Anyone who has ever been to A Pa Chai, the westernmost point of Vietnam, the junction of the Vietnam-Laos-China border, must have been exhausted by the arduous journey such as walking through the old forest and climbing nearly 500 stone steps to reach the sovereignty marker, while reaching the westernmost point of Europe is very simple.

Just take the bus number 403 from the town of Cascais, you can reach the westernmost point, a short walk to the landmark marking the westernmost coordinates of Portugal, the westernmost point of Europe. If possible, you can take a taxi, a bit expensive, but will take you to the foot of the landmark.

To the far west

The day I arrived here, from afar, I saw a group of cyclists also coming here. I guessed that they must have cycled from the capital Lisbon because the distance was only over 40 km. I regretted not having the chance to interact with them, the people who share the same passion for cycling from Portugal, because when I arrived, they were leaving so I didn't have the chance to ask them questions.

The Westernmost European landmark is an ancient stone tablet that records basic information about the Cape of Cabo da Roca such as longitude and latitude, and on top of the landmark is a cross symbol. At first, I was a bit surprised, because I thought that a special coordinate landmark like the Westernmost would have to be built grandly, but then I realized that Portugal is a country that spread Christianity all over the world, so it is understandable that the top of the landmark has a cross symbol.

A short distance further is the lighthouse facing the Atlantic Ocean. This is one of the two most iconic landmarks of Cabo da Roca. Since the Atlantic Ocean is right next to the cape, fences have been erected along the cape to ensure the safety of visitors, so that they do not overdo it and dive into the sea.

The cape is a narrow cliff, about 140m above sea level. Therefore, sightseeing from this location is very interesting and feels very close to the Atlantic Ocean right below. You can widen your eyes to admire the immense Atlantic Ocean with the high blue sky. Freedom, refreshment, and soaring are the intense emotions when you set foot on this special land. The scenery of Cabo da Roca becomes even more beautiful at sunset. At that time, you will be fascinated when witnessing the vast sea and sky turn into a slightly purple red, poetic and romantic to captivate people's hearts.

Cabo da Roca is a coastal area in Portugal, located in an extremely favorable location: the westernmost point of Portugal and also the westernmost point of Europe.

The Great Wall of Portugal

If you have come to the westernmost part of Europe, do not forget to visit the ancient Moorish castle. The Moorish castle embraces the hilltop in Sintra, a town with a unique terrain in Europe. Sintra town is considered the diamond of Portuguese tourism , with many ancient Moorish architectural works such as the Moorish castle, Pena national palace...

If you take the train from Lisbon city center, it only takes about 30-45 minutes to get to Sintra. I was visiting my close girlfriend who lives in Cascais and staying at her house for a few days so Sintra was a little closer than from Lisbon.

Originating from the Moorish occupation of Portugal, the walls and towers are now a romantic tribute to the Portuguese King Ferdinand II in the 19th century. From below, you can see the long ramparts that lead to the top where the Moorish castle stands. The view reminds me of the Great Wall of China.

Close-up of the path up to the Moorish castle.

The Moorish castle was built in the 8th or 9th century when large parts of Portugal were occupied by the Moors. However, the castle fell under Christian rule when the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, recaptured it in 1147. It houses not only a Moorish mosque, but also a small Christian chapel dedicated to the São Pedro de Penaferrim area.

Over the centuries, as Sintra's strategic importance waned, the castle fell into disrepair. However, in the mid-19th century, a restoration project was launched under the direction of King Ferdinand II, as part of his romantic designs for Sintra, which included the nearby Pena Palace.

The views from the sides of the Moorish Castle are spectacular. You can see the Cape of Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point of Europe) and the whole town of Sintra in your sight. The Moorish Castle is the only Moorish-style castle in Europe built by the Moors, and has been classified as a National Monument of Portugal, a cultural part of the town of Sintra and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The reason why Moorish structures and their traces appear in so many of the architectures built by the Spanish-Portuguese is because the Moorish Muslim army crossed the sea to the European continent and dominated most of the Iberian Peninsula for 800 years, since the 13th century. The Moors (also known as the Mauri) were not a single race but a collection of Berbers, North African Arabs and black Africans.

Originating from the Moorish occupation of Portugal, the walls and towers are now a romantic tribute to the Portuguese King Ferdinand II in the 19th century. From below, you can see the long ramparts that lead to the top where the Moorish castle stands. The view reminds me of the Great Wall of China.

Besides the westernmost point of Europe and the Moorish castle, my best friend took me to the capital Lisbon, to visit beautiful coastal attractions of Portugal such as Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, Sao Jorge Castle... Jeronimos Monastery is also one of the World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO, so to get inside, you have to wait in line for quite a while.

This 17th-century structure was once the former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome. The nearby Belem Tower is a 16th-century fortress and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fortress is a symbol of the European Age of Discovery and features Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline architecture.

The Belem Tower is built entirely of local limestone in a predominantly white colour. Here you can see 17 cannons with battlements facing the river and small walls on the upper floor decorated with motifs of the cross of Jesus.

Moorish castle landscape.

Knowing that I was going to Portugal, a friend asked me to buy a shirt with the name and number of the famous football player Cristiano Ronaldo on it. It cost more than 1 million VND for a T-shirt, so she shook her head and said no. Although the shirt of her idol is quite expensive, the cost of living in Portugal can be considered the lowest in Europe. When I went to the supermarket, I found that the prices of food items were much cheaper than in France. For example, a bunch of about 6 bananas costs 6 Euros in France, but only 3 Euros in Portugal...

Traveling to the westernmost tip of Europe and exploring the historical heritage of Portugal not only brings a sense of satisfaction when conquering unique destinations but also opens up the opportunity to contemplate the beauty of the intersection of nature, culture and history. From majestic Cabo da Roca to ancient Moorish castles, each place has its own story, contributing to the irresistible appeal of this country.

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