It is the first of 944 granite boundary markers placed to define the border between Portugal and Spain.
The marker is situated at the exact point where the international border transitions from a river boundary to a land boundary.
The location in Cevide is the northernmost point of mainland Portugal.
The marker was established following the Boundary Treaty signed in Lisbon in 1864.
The site sits at the confluence of the Trancoso river, which acts as a natural border, and the larger Minho river.
Marco de Fronteira Nº 1 is the northernmost border marker of Portugal, physically denoting the boundary between the Portuguese municipality of Melgaço and the Spanish municipality of Padrenda. Located at the confluence of the Minho and Trancoso rivers, the site marks the precise point where the border leaves the riverbed to follow a land route. The marker is a stone pillar inscribed with the designation number 1, signifying its status as the starting point of the 1864 Treaty of Lisbon boundary line. The surrounding area, known as Cevide, serves as the northwestern extremity of the Portuguese mainland. It is a quiet, rural location utilized primarily by hikers and those interested in border geography.
From the river bank looking toward the stone pillar with the confluence of the two rivers in the background.
Bring sturdy footwear, as the terrain around the marker can be uneven and muddy near the riverbank.
Check your mobile roaming settings, as phones frequently switch between Portuguese and Spanish networks in this exact spot.
Combine this visit with a trip to the nearby historic village of Melgaço.
Do not attempt to cross the river to reach the Spanish side, as the currents can be dangerous and there is no official crossing point here.
Respect private farmland surrounding the path to the marker.
