Facts about North Cape

North Cape is the most northerly part of Europe. From the plateau you can rest your eyes over the endless horizon in the north. When the first tourist visited North Cape in 1664 he gave the following statement: “Here I am at North Cape – at the very edge of civilisation – and I can say that my hunger for knowledge is satisfied. Now I can travel home content if God permits”.
This was the priest Francesco Negri from Ravenna in Italy. He was curious and wanted to find out how the people could survive so far north. He travelled alone and wrote down all his experiences.

Hornvika lays idyllically on the east of North Cape. Before the road was opened on 30th June 1956 anyone wishing to visit North Cape had to be put ashore here by boat. They then had to climb up to North Cape on foot.

At Hornvika there used to be a quay, cafés, souvenir sales and the world’s most northern post office. Up to this day you can still see the 300 meter path up the steep mountain side.

North Cape became popular with the Europeans who were fond of travelling, after the Swedish king Oscar the 2nd had visited North Cape in 1873. His visit was marked with the unveiling of the Oscar statue on the 2nd of July. The king travelled with a large retinue. They erected a big tent and served champagne and other refreshments.

Throughout history North Cape has had a lot of distinguished visitors. Among them was king Chulalongkorn from Siam (Thailand) who visited North Cape in 1907. The monarch from Asia sailed from Copenhagen with the chartered yacht “Albion”. His visit was documented by the carving of the date and signature in a large stone which you still can see in the North Cape Hall.

On the Midnight Sun Monument stands the North Arrow which points to the North. This monument represents the bond between 12 Scandinavian municipalities which focuses on the Midnight Sun’s road to North Cape. The monument was unveiled in 1984, the year that the Royal North Cape Club was established.