Ponta de Sagres Lighthouse

Ponta de Sagres Lighthouse is a white masonry tower with a rectangular form and an attached storage room at its base. The structure houses a lens system and has guided ships across the Atlantic for decades.

An earlier lighthouse from 1894 with a petroleum lamp once stood here before being replaced by the current structure. The new building was erected in the 1960s and has operated as a navigation aid since then.

The lighthouse marks a key navigation point on Portugal's southwestern coast and shapes the look of the Fortaleza site. Visitors see a working system that has guided Atlantic shipping for decades.

The site is reached from the Fortaleza and sits at Portugal's southwestern tip. The light operates automatically and remains visible regardless of weather conditions.

The system has operated on full automation since 1983, controlled remotely from Cape St. Vincent without needing staff on site. This remote operation allows efficient navigation over vast distances.

Location: Escalos de Cima e Lousa

Inception: January 1, 1960

GPS coordinates: 36.99457,-8.94924

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:02