The making of the European mind

Sir, – Enda O’Doherty observes that Europe has no obvious borders; he asks where it begins and ends (“The making of the European…

Sir, – Enda O’Doherty observes that Europe has no obvious borders; he asks where it begins and ends (“The making of the European mind”, January 2nd).

The rocky cliff face of Cabo da Roca, 40 km from Lisbon, marks the westernmost point of continental Europe.

The eastern limit may be less clearly defined but, after redrawing the map of Europe at the 1815 Congress of Vienna, Prince von Metternich, the Austrian foreign minister, had no hesitation in declaring “Asia begins at the Landstrasse” (the main road out of Vienna). – Yours, etc,

Dr JOHN DOHERTY,

Operngasse 28,

Vienna.