The most beautiful natural sites to discover Nord-Norge

At the end of the cliff of the North Cape was once a place of Sami ritual sacrifices. Today, only a large parking lot remains, a compulsory passage to access the tourist center hidden in the cliff and inaugurated in 1988. No way to avoid paying, the road is surrounded by barriers. Otherwise, you should know that an entry is valid for 24 hours. Many clever people come to pitch their tent in the park. A good way to benefit from an amazing place, a radically different environment, and to save a night in a hotel with a breathtaking view of the sunrise and sunset on the cape! However, you will have to deal with the incessant humming of the coaches which undeniably detracts from the majesty of the place. Anyway, the place has that magic touch because you know you are at the northernmost point, at the end of Europe, and this thought is enough. The road that leads to the North Cape has a lot to do with this. A slow progression, the aridity of the landscapes, everything contributes to make the cape a place apart. If the end of the world is fascinating, the road that leads to it is no less so.

Apart from the view towards a blue horizon, the vast tourist structure carved into the cliffs houses a modern complex of shops, cafeterias and restaurants (where prices are correct). A small museum is dedicated to the first personalities who came to the North Cape. The Italian explorer-priest Pietro Negri, in search of the end of the world, was one of the first tourists to visit the North Cape in 1664. This was followed in 1873 by Oscar II, King of Sweden-Norway, and Louis-Philippe, who had been chased out of France in 1795 and disguised as an ordinary visitor. At the time, the only way to approach the cliffs of the North Cape was by boat, and then climb the 300 m to the top, as the carriage road across the plateau was not opened until 1956. This road will soon be opened again and the physical test will give access to a sumptuous view of this cape.
Inside the hall, a "champagne bar" has been set up facing a panoramic bay with a superb view of the midnight sun which lasts from 16 May to 28 July (when there is no fog). A small outdoor terrace is hung over a 300m precipice overlooking the icy Arctic Ocean. Fog often rises from the ocean, enveloping the tip of the North Cape, which then seems to float between sky and sea. This is the end of the world! Do it if you can.

The northernmost wildlife park in the world, where you can observe Arctic animals in their natural environment. The park is home to species from the far north, including 4 large predators: brown bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. Very pleasant and amazing for children. And those who have remained so. Allow time (minimum 2 hours) because the animals are sometimes hidden and you must be patient to observe them. It is possible to book a guided tour with a zookeeper who will bring food to the predators to attract them.

The Reisaelv River dug a deep canyon across the mountain plateau. Waterfalls (including those of Mollisfossen, 269 m high), and rocky sediments, as well as the flora and bird species, are very diverse. The park serves as pasture for Semi semi-domestic reindeer. Access from Storslett (on the E 6), take the 865 to Bilto, then the forest road to the Sarelv River, where boats can be rented. Refuges shelters. Area: 803 km ².

Back on the E 6, after a hundred kilometres, while the road follows the contours of the bottom of the fjords, which sometimes extends the double, we arrive at a campsite that has taken its neighbourhoods in this extraordinary landscape. You can see the Large bird sanctuary. Another hundred kilometres, and we approach the mountains of Kvaenangen.

In Mettevollen, you can buy strawberries which, if incredible, grow here during the short summer season. Then the road rises in the Montagne mountain, isolated and dark. At the peak, facing the glacier and dominating the fjord, there is an old low-stone inn in the country. We are here very far from any dwelling, with the exception of some rudimentary Sami Demeures residences, "en hard" variants of tipis, and built in peat.

5 km from Karasjok is a nature park with barbecues, a rain shelter, toilets and a children's playground. Of course, you should check the weather conditions (or just look at the sky!) before venturing into a nature area, even if this one is equipped and is really not far from Karasjok. Not very well signposted but the tourist office will be able to explain the route. Bring something to light the barbecue!

"Hornet is a rocky, horn-shaped promontory on the northeastern side of the North Cape cliff, below and beside the sea. In pre-Christian times, Hornet was a sacred place for the Sámi people of Magerøya, who regarded it as the domain of the gods. "Hornet can only be seen from a distance. In Viking times, the area was subjected to Viking taxation and sometimes sacked. The chief of Håløy traded with the Sami as far as the White Sea in Russia. But Norwegian settlement of Finnmark probably did not begin until the 16th century. The abundance of fish attracted fishermen from northern Europe. To secure territory, the fortress of Vardø and several fortified churches were built. Hornvika, or Horn Bay, was the place where tourist boats docked before 1956 and the construction of the road to Nordkapp.

Finnmark was booming until the end of the 17th century, when fishing suffered a serious crisis. Several sites along the coast were abandoned by the Norwegians. The 18th and 19th centuries saw an influx of immigrants from northern Finland and Sweden, as well as farmers from southern Norway. This led to many conflicts with the Saami who had occupied the land for centuries. A contemporary novel by a Saami author, Alio Gaup, The Magic Drum, was translated into French by Editions du Rocher in 1992. A place full of history that is worth a visit if you pass by.

This geological formation is a feast for the eyes; it's a portal-like fault several metres wide in a rocky promontory. The midnight sun shines through this "portal" between midnight and 2 a.m., and it's quite impressive. From here, the Hornet is clearly visible in the distance. The walk to Kirkeporten is also very pleasant: 2.5 kilometers from the Kikeporten campsite or the Nordkapp Turisthotell. Allow 1 hour in all.

This cave dug into the rock is located under one of the city's hills and sheltered the civilians who took refuge there during the German bombardments of the Second World War. The 25-minute tour focuses on the history of Kirkenes during this painful time, with the presentation of a film and photos. A must-see place that is part of the network of museums throughout Northern Norway. A good way to imagine the daily life of the population in these times of war, but also the reconstruction that followed.

This 3,560 km² national park was established in 1973 and covers the north-western part of the island of Spitsbergen. It is home to Svalbard reindeer (a smaller species than in Norway), walrus and numerous colonies of pelagic birds. The park also includes the island of Magdalenfjord. Virgohamna, on Danes Island, was the starting point for engineer S. A. Andrée's (failed) 1897 expedition to reach the North Pole in a hydrogen balloon.

Mount Wallenberg (or Wallenbergfjellet) is a 375 metre summit. He owes his name to Knut Agathon Wallenberg, a Swedish politician who contributed to the expeditions in Svalbard.

This archipelago of about 100 islands and rocky islets is home to huge colonies of breeding birds, including one of the largest colonies of Atlantic Puffins in Northern Norway. These birds coexist with other species such as gannets, white-tailed eagles, razorbills, eiders, great cormorants, fulmars and parasitic jaegers. The breeding bird population on these islands is estimated at some 3 million individuals.

It is the northernmost point in Europe (71º 11' 08"), the true North Cape. But it is true that this point has a much less dramatic appearance! With its marked path of 18 km round trip starting from the E69 road, it is an excellent point of view to admire the cliffs of the North Cape, and avoid the crowd! However, Magerøya remains an island connected to the mainland by a road. The Nordkinn Cape near Mehamn is actually the northernmost point of the European continent.

This park dedicated to Sami culture opens with a 25-minute film on the history of the Sami people, followed by a tour of several buildings that recreate the Sami way of life during the summer (traditional tents or lavvu, food shelters, a reindeer pen). The premises aren't very big, and you quickly get the hang of it, unlike the store, which is huge. All the staff are dressed in traditional costume. An opportunity to discover a little more about Saami culture, the original people of these northern lands.

Off the coast of Andøya stands this bird rock, one of the most famous in the country. A local fishing boat goes to this island every day, where a large number of species can be seen. Between 70,000 and 80,000 pairs of puffins, over 4,000 pairs of kittiwakes and hundreds of cormorants, guillemots, petrels and other seabirds nest here. Remember to take your binoculars and why not a sketchbook for yourself or to draw your own postcards. A very beautiful place.

Although Møysalen National Park is not directly located in Stokmarknes, it is nearby and worth a visit if you love nature and hiking. The park is dominated by the majestic Møysalen mountain and offers beautiful scenery, well-marked hiking trails for motivated walkers and a rich birdlife. You don't have to walk far to experience the majesty and solitude of the mountain and lakes!

This reserve covers the southern part of the island of Spitsbergen. The arctic landscape is composed of 65% glaciers and eternal snow. There are several colonies of seabirds but also colonies of geese and eiders. It is a privileged breeding area. This national park is also the largest in Norway with its area of 5 300 km ². It was created in 1973 by the government. In summer, there are many small lakes and areas covered with short grass.

The landscape of this large island, which stretches along the west coast, consists of beaches, high mountains and glaciers. Located at the northern end of the Gulf Stream passage, Forlandet enjoys a relatively mild Arctic climate. Due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, the most northerly nesting colonies in the world can be observed here. The National Park has an area of 640 km² for the land part and 4,647 km² when including the sea part. Why not go with a guide?