The Hornvika bay, east of the North Cape plateau, was from the 1800s the most common landing site for North Cape visitors. It remained an important port of call until the North Cape road was finished in 1956.
Hornvika got name after outstanding piece of rock shaped like a horn. Pre – Christianity, the Horn was a holy site for the Sami population on Magerøya Island and was the home of Gods. The Horn can only be seen properly from a distance.
The first arranged tours with steam liners from Hammerfest to the North Cape took place in 1845. The first cruise ship arrived in 1882 and the Hurtigruten costal steamers called at Hornvika from 1893. The passengers walked and climbed up the 300 meter (985 ft.) winding path. King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway climbed the path in 1873 and King Chulalongkorn of Thailand walked and was partially carried up in 1907.
Café and stalls selling local souvenirs were opened down in the bay and by 1987 Hornvika even had its own post office. The local population, in particular people from nearby fishing village Skarsvåg could make good money helping travellers up the steep path.
The company Nordkapp Vel A/B was formed in 1927 and they enhanced conditions in Hornvika by building a new quay and improving the path. In 1928 the landing fee in Hornvika was one Norwegian krone per head. The quay, the post Office and the first part of the stair was restored during the summers of 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Parking place:
Locals outside Ćafé Nordkap´, circa 1930-1939. The bottom picture is most likely the café of proprietress Severine, located above Hornvika. Severine serving coffee to local men and women
Karen Sannes serving tourists outside her café in Hornvika. The café run in the interwar years, it was destroyed by an avalanche during the Second World War.
Overview about Hornvika, showing quay, boats, post Office, several stalls and other buildings. In the background a large tourist ship is visible. 1920-1939
