RoadStars goes “português”

Olive trees, cobblestone villages, fascinating towns, picturesque wine regions and golden beaches.

Portugal, one of the oldest countries on the continent, lies in southern Europe on the Iberian peninsula. The Portuguese town of “Cabo da Roca” marks Europe's most westerly point. The Azores and Madeira are also part of the Portuguese national territory.

Portugal is a country with strong links to the sea which is reflected particularly in the culture and lifestyle of its people. Several of Portugal's most important cities lie along almost 2000 km of coast and the estuary leading into the Atlantic; they all have a breathtaking view of the never-ending blue of the ocean.

With 25 million tourists, Portugal is one of the most visited countries in the world. So it is not surprising that tourism is one of the country's most important sources of income. Portugal is also one of the world's largest producers of cork. More than 50% of cork comes from here. Some 80% of the country's total exports is to partners in the EU. The main exports are clothing, machines, chemical products, cork, cellulose and paper.

Portugal's motorway network is run and maintained by private companies. Each company is obliged under contract with the state to extend the relevant stretches if traffic volume increases. Despite this well-developed road network, it is still possible to see old cobbled streets in small villages; but this is just part of the charm of a picturesque country which boasts olive trees, kilometre-long beaches and wine regions.