N37.0047 W8.94532 - SAGRES (pronounced Sagresh) - Free Car Park (huge)

We left Mikki's this morning, later than Sheila and Barry as usual and going our separate ways, them east and us west but it's been a lovely few days .

We meandered along the road taking our time, did a bit of shopping (in a Chinese shop, of course). Headed to Portimao, followed signs for the beach parking, not using SatNav, decided we'd come to the wrong bit of parking so I turned said SatNav on and put in the co-ordinates for a Motorhome parking at Alvor.

We found the parking, a huge sandy park which all the blurb on my two Apps say 'avoid like the plague if it's raining as it becomes a bog and if it's windy, sand is blown everywhere'. All looked calm weather-wise so we went in to look for a suitable spot but it seemed as all the best ones had been taken up and by best, I mean ones without wheel ruts. So we drove out again and parked on a bit of wasteland while we had our lunch.

After lunch we set off for Sagres. Following the directions of 'Naggy' (not me) we went straight over at the next roundabout and had to turn right into a pretty narrow road up a first gear hill . We came to a crossroads (a very small one). Naggy said we should go straight on - impossible. So now, we can't go straight, we can't go left as it was no left turn. The only option is to turn right! Naggy says 'GOT YA, YOU APRIL FOOLS'!

We turned right with lots of shunting about and the assistance of a young man who directed Mike. I turned myself upside down in my seat trying to see the awning cover in the mirror to make sure we didn't scrape it on the corner of a building.

Now we knew why, while eating our lunch, the camper we'd seen going the same way returned and left Alvor by the route it came in on.

The rest of our journey was uneventful - mostly saying that we didn't remember bits of the journey from five or six years previous, and shouldn't we have passed the campsite we stayed in then? Now I have looked on a map I see the lack of memory and not passing the campsite id because, today, we have taken a different route!!

I'm not sure who, if anyone, I have told about our previous visit here so if you happen to be one of those people I have told in the past please bear with me .

If you look at the 'photo' you can see we are at the most South-Western part of Portugal, the Land's End of Portugal, if you like, we have the sea each side of us and it is very windy.

We are on free parking which is basically a large cobbled car park at the bottom of a deceptively steep road. At the top is a fort - the Fortaleza de Sagres - history lesson follows:-

The following information about the fort is courtesy of algarve-tourist.com

"The Fortaleza Sagres is located at the southern tip of the Sagres Peninsular and this uniquely designed fort protected the town from raiders from North African. It was from here that Henry the Navigator devised his 15th century expeditions to the uncharted seas around the western side of Africa, which heralded in the golden era of Portugal exploration.

For visitors to the fort there are great panoramic views over the ocean and to the Cabo de Vincent but sadly the historical importance of the fort outweighs the tourist experience as there is comparatively very little to see .

Sagres fort is not a classically constructed fort, it is more a large wall that divides the mainland from the headland, with the other three side protected by 60 meter high cliffs. Inside fort’s walls is a giant wind compass that was used to aid early navigation and the small chapel of Nossa Senhora da Graça.

In the church are early images of Saint Vincent and ground level ruins of the major sections of the old fort. Much of the original fort was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake and the resulting tidal wave that rose higher than the giant cliffs.

The location of the Fortaleza de Sagres has made it of strategic importance and this was truly identified during the 15th century with increased of trade (and naval movements) from the Mediterranean, Africa and the northern Europe. An early-buttressed fortress was constructed on the orders of the wealthy and well connected Infante D. Henrique (Henry the Navigator) to guard the town and harbour of Sagres.

It was here that Henry spent much of his time planning voyages and methods to improve seafaring, these endeavors would map the western edge of Africa and lead to the golden age of Portugal. Henry’s private residence was on the Cabo de Vincent at the location of the present day lighthouse but he died within Sagres fort in 1460.

Sagres fort was the centerpiece in an attack by the English naval captain, Francis Drake, in 1587 when Portugal was under Spanish rule. The 16th century also saw major upgrades to the fortifications including larger barracks, wind break walls and cistern tower. The devastating 1755 earthquake destroyed most of the fort, the actual quake only did slight damage but the resulting tsunami flooded (and washed away) the entire fort by rising higher than the 60m cliffs. The fort was repaired but never again achieved it’s importance."