Cabo de São Vicente Lighthouse – the Light at the End of Europe

At the very southwestern tip of continental Europe, about six kilometres from Sagres, the land ends in steep cliffs that plunge into the Atlantic from a height of around 75 metres. On their edge stands the Farol do Cabo de São Vicente – a white tower with a red lantern that has guided ships bound for the Mediterranean and back for centuries. For sailors it was the last light of home; for today's visitors it is one of the most beautiful places in all of Portugal to watch the sunset.

A sacred cape at the end of the world

The cape held special significance as far back as the Neolithic, as the menhirs scattered around the area attest. The Romans called it Promontorium Sacrum – the Sacred Promontory – and the nearby town of Sagres takes its name from the word sacrum. In antiquity it was considered the farthest known point of the world, and it was said that here the sun sank over the edge of the Earth.

The cape's present name comes from Saint Vincent of Zaragoza, a martyr of the 4th century. According to legend, his body arrived here by boat and flocks of ravens watched over his grave. In 1173 King Afonso Henriques had the remains transferred to Lisbon – and the ravens are said to have accompanied the ship the whole way. That is why they still appear on Lisbon's coat of arms, and why Vincent is the patron saint of the capital.

From monks to one of the most powerful lights in Europe

According to records, monks were already keeping a light burning for ships at the beginning of the 16th century. A fortress was built around the same time to protect the coast from pirates. Francis Drake damaged the fortifications in 1587, and the great earthquake of 1755 completed the destruction.

The present lighthouse was built on the orders of Queen Maria II on the ruins of a 16th-century Franciscan monastery and was first lit in October 1846. At first it burned olive oil and its beam reached only about six nautical miles. After years of neglect it was rebuilt from 1897, and in the early 20th century it was fitted with an extraordinary hyperradiant Fresnel lens with a focal length of 1.33 metres. It is the largest optic of any Portuguese lighthouse and ranks among the ten largest in the world.

Today the lighthouse emits a white flash every 5 seconds with a range of 32 nautical miles, or roughly 60 km. It has been fully automated since 1982 and also controls the neighbouring lighthouse at Sagres. It watches over one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, where vessels pass between the Atlantic and the Strait of Gibraltar.

What you will see at the cape

• The lighthouse and monastery grounds: you enter the courtyard through a gate in the walls; inside the complex there is a small maritime museum and a viewing terrace overlooking the endless ocean.
• The cliffs: almost vertical walls above the Atlantic where seabirds nest. You will often spot fishermen casting their lines right from the edges of the rocks.
• Letzte Bratwurst vor Amerika: a legendary stand in front of the lighthouse gate. A German couple has been selling grilled sausages here since the late 1990s, and with every portion you get a humorous printed certificate confirming that you have eaten the "last sausage before America".
• Fortaleza do Beliche: a 17th-century fortress that you pass about 1.2 km before the lighthouse.
• Fortaleza de Sagres: a fortress on the neighbouring headland of Ponta de Sagres, associated with Henry the Navigator – an ideal second stop on your trip.

Tip: Crowds head here for the sunset, and in season queues several kilometres long can form on the access road. Either set off well in advance, or come in the morning, when the lighthouse is quiet.

Good to know

• Getting there: about 6 km from Sagres by car; there is also a bus from Sagres and Lagos. The car park right in front of the complex is hopelessly full by early evening.
• Access and opening hours: the cape itself and the surrounding cliffs are freely accessible around the clock. The inner courtyard and museum are managed by the Portuguese Navy (Direção de Faróis / Autoridade Marítima Nacional); opening hours change throughout the year, and entry is sometimes restricted due to renovations or operational reasons. The lighthouse tower is open to the public only on rare occasions.
• Weather: the wind at the cape is almost always strong, and even in summer the evenings can be chilly – bring a jacket.
• Safety: the cliffs are not protected by railings, so do not go near the edges, especially in windy conditions.