HORNET
"Hornet" is a rocky, horn-shaped promontory that lies to the northeast of the North Cape cliff, below and beside the sea. In pre-Christian times, "Hornet" was a sacred place for the Saami population of Magerøya, who considered it the domain of the gods. "Hornet can only be admired from a distance. In Viking times, the area was subjected to Viking taxation and, at times, sacked. The chief of Håløy traded with the Saami as far as the White Sea in Russia. But Norwegian colonization of Finnmark probably only began in 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 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 numerous conflicts with the Saami, who had occupied the land for centuries. A contemporary novel by Saami author Alio Gaup, Le Tambour magique, was translated into French by Éditions du Rocher in 1992. A place steeped in history, well worth a visit if you're passing through.
Did you know? This review was written by our professional authors.
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