Monday 3rd March
This is the approach to the imposing fortaleza (fortress) at Sagres. Built to repel invaders from the sea it saw action trying to see off Francis Drake back in the 16th century.


This is where we anchored when we rounded Cape St. Vincent. Didn't know there were canon pointing at us!

Much of the original fort which had walls that ran right around the headland, were destroyed in a huge earthquake that hit Portugal in 1755. The fortifications that remain were rebuilt in 1793 and have since been set up as they would have been at the time of Drake's attack. The fort also contains the remains of a 43m diameter wind rose thought to be from Henry the Navigators school of navigation from the 13th century. Apparently it was used to measure the direction of the wind (there was plenty of it) but it was disappointing to see they hadn't bothered keeping it free of weeds.


Disappointing windrose

You have to enter the fort (€3) to be able to walk out around the promontory and to see the views. The surface of the promontary is a limestone pavement with some rare plants growing. Even though it was only February there were plenty of flowers starting to bloom on the hardy plants that have to withstand a harsh salty and windy environment.


15th century Chapel inside the fort

A walkway takes you around the edge of the promontary with a study fence to stop people getting too close to the sheer drop of the high cliffs. Apart from the crazy fishermen that is who stand precariously on the edge. One wrong move and it's a loooooong way down. Out at the headland (Ponta de Sagres) are some blowholes in the rock that go right down to the sea, you could hear the waves crashing inside.

Crazy fisherman


This is how far he'll fall if he makes one wrong move


After the fort we drove along towards the cape with a picnic along the way. It was pretty windy but the car made a good windbreak. Dozens of sufers looked like seals bobbing about in the sea way down at the bottom of the cliffs. Sagres is a surfer town.



Picnic over it was on to the cape where the wind buffeted us from the north west, but unfortunately the waves and swell weren't that high that we got see any dramatic crashing against the cliffs.