Cabo Da Roca
Wednesday, 7th September 2005 by Alex Turnbull
This is Cabo Da Roca (Cape Roca), Portugal, which is the very westernmost point of mainland Europe. You can see the lighthouse perched on the cliff-top, and also what looks like a viewing area on the cliff-edge.
Doesn't look very warm there though if you ask me... which is a shame because I'm going to Portugal tomorrow! Don't worry, I'm sure James and Olly will look after you guys 😀 Have a nice week!
Thanks to Manuel Freitas and florian.
About the author
Alex has decided that his title will be Senior Vice President of Stuff.
It may depend of the definition of Europe but the Latrabjarg cliff in Iceland is already known for beeing the westernmost point of europe. little history of the place : http://www.exploreiceland.is/exploreiceland/main_attractions/westfjords/latrabjarg/ and the google map point (badly in low res) : View Placemark
My apologies Tony, I meant to say ‘mainland’ Europe. Post updated, thanks.
Hi
I’m from Lisbon, and if you need any kind of help in your stay in Portugal, just try to contact me.
Enjoy your stay …
Check out the fire that is burning just to the ENE of the place. It’s taking up a lot of area with it’s smoke, and is very noticable if you zoom out.
I visited this place last week… generally, the weather is pretty warm these days but expect strong winds when looking down from the cliff-top.
Some interesting locations nearby:
Palacio da Pena in Sintra, part of the world heritage (not very impressive from above, a beautiful location nevertheless): View Placemark
Estoril race track, was a Formula 1 track, now used for MotoGP and others: View Placemark
Casino Estoril, the largest in Europe: View Placemark
Hi, I just want to wish you a nice stay here in Portugal! 🙂
If you go north on the map, you can see one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, Praia da Ursa. Its absolutely gorgeous and secluded though the hike down can be a bit tough…
If you go north on the map just a bit, you can see one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, Praia da Ursa. it is esconced on each end by two huge boulders in the water on one end of the beach and two smaller ones on the other…
Its absolutely gorgeous and secluded though the hike down can be a bit tough…
It isn’t true, the westernmost point of europe is Cabo Finisterre (Latin: Finis Terrae) in Galicia, Spain
Check again, Wes. Cabo da Roca is 12 minutes to the west of Cabo Finisterra. That’s 15 km to the left, enough to settle all claims.
WES: LOL you need to use some accurate maps.
About the place: very nice place specialty at night with strong winds 🙂 i go there almost every week, just to stay there for a couple of minutes looking to the sea&moon.
also the way to go there … a very nice road to who enjoys driving.
15km… LOL.
Cabo Finisterre (Finis Terrae = “The End of the Earth”) has already been awarded the honors a long time ago… by the romans
Moreover, the highest cliffs in Europe are also in Galicia, Spain… look closer (on the northern coast)
Romans didn’t have Googlus Mapus to check their geography skills, did they? 🙂 Now, should we ask the Spanish Government to kindly change Cabo Finisterra’s name or shall we leave it as is?
Anyway, check back in a couple hundred years. The situation will certainly be different due to sea erosion and silting up. Like this spot that was a fishing village in the 14th Century and is now way inland due to silting: View Placemark
Sorry to dig up such and old subject, but actually if you consider europe as a whole (islands included) Fajã Grande, on Flores, (Azores), would be the westernmost part of Europe – not Latrabjarg cliff in Iceland. Keeping on apollogies for such a old subject, Cape Finisterre isn’t the westernmost part of Spain, that would be Cabo de Touriñán.
hey does anyone know anything about the light house? Like when it was built or whom it was built by?
Thanks! Kat