Fámjin
Encyclopedia
Fámjin is a village, located in the middle of the coastline on the western side of Suðuroy
, the southernmost island in Faroe Islands
. It has a population of around 100.
The village of Fámjin is looking directly out to the harsh sea, although partly protected by a stone reef, which becomes visible at low tide. The village is surrounded by the beautiful natural scenery of the highest mountains on Suðuroy
. The highest mountain, Gluggarnir
is located north of Fámjin. The mountains Borgarknappur
and Borgin are south-east of the village. There are several inland lakes and waterfalls. One of the waterfalls is named Fossurin Mikli. Only one road leads to the village, it goes through Øravík
.
If you like to walk, go up from the village to the lake known as “Kirkjuvatn
” (Church Lake), one of the largest on the island.
The old mountain path between Fámjin and Vágur
was originally the main road
between the two villages. The path goes through beautiful nature in the mountains south of Fámjin and runs along the cliffs to the west. There are cairns along the path. West of Fámjin by the end of the road is a gorge which is called Prestgjógv (The Priest's Gorge).
Fámjin is 9 km west of Øravík
, which is on the west coast. Øravík is located on the east coast, around 3 km south of Krambatangi
ferry port. The distance from Fámjin to Tvøroyri
is 16 km. The distance from Fámjin to Vágur
is 29 km.
) (Faroese: Fámjinssteinurin). The stone bears both Latin and Runic letters. The stone is dated to the time after the Faroese reformation in 1538, and proves that runes were used up to as late as the 16th century. It is the youngest of the Faroese runestones.
In the church is the prototype of the Faroese flag Merkið. This flag was made by Jens Oliver Lisberg
from Fámjin and others while they were studying in Copenhagen
in Denmark
in 1919. The first time "Merkið" was used in the Faroe Islands, was on June 22, 1919 in Famjin, the occasion was a wedding.
Merkið was not officially recognized in the beginning. However during World War II
, the United Kingdom
prohibited the use of the flag of Denmark
on Faroese ships as Denmark
was at that time occupied by Germany
. Therefore Merkið was run up on the ships instead. (April 25, 1940 is the official date of recognition)
Not until the verification of the home rule act in 1948 was Merkið recognized as the official flag of the Faroe Islands
.
, which is well-protected by the natural environment, the fishing boats moor in the summer at a small wharf
. During the winter the boats are pulled in from the quay and kept in boat houses nearby. As in other villages both fishing and sheep farming is a part of the daily routine. The sheep are gathered and led to slaughter in October.
During the summer months, however, the population increases significantly due to the many people from Fámjin who live in other villages on the Faroe Islands and in other countries, but return in the sheep herding and hay season, which takes place from the beginning of July to the end of August. This is the case in many small Faroese villages. The past years the number of tourists who visit the village has been increasing. The tourists come especially for one reason, they wish to see the original Faroese flag, Merkið, which is hanging inside the church. There are some houses for rent and a coffeshop is next to the harbour. Tourists enjoy also to go for a walk up the hill behind the church to the lake Kirkjuvatn
. The name means The Lake of the Church.
Suðuroy
Suðuroy is the southernmost of the Faroe Islands. The island covers 163.7 km². In 2010 there were 4763 inhabitants, but there has been a gradual decline in the population numbers ever since the 1950s....
, the southernmost island in Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
. It has a population of around 100.
The village of Fámjin is looking directly out to the harsh sea, although partly protected by a stone reef, which becomes visible at low tide. The village is surrounded by the beautiful natural scenery of the highest mountains on Suðuroy
Suðuroy
Suðuroy is the southernmost of the Faroe Islands. The island covers 163.7 km². In 2010 there were 4763 inhabitants, but there has been a gradual decline in the population numbers ever since the 1950s....
. The highest mountain, Gluggarnir
Gluggarnir
Gluggarnir is a mountain in the Faroe Islands. At 610 metres, it is the highest mountain on the southernmost island Suðuroy. The mountain is located between the villages Fámjin and Trongisvágur....
is located north of Fámjin. The mountains Borgarknappur
Borgarknappur
Borgarknappur is a mountain in Suðuroy, Faroe Islands. The mountain is 574 meter high. It is located in the center of the island, west of the village Hov and south-east of Fámjin, south-west of Øravík and north of Vágur. Another mountain peak, which is called Borgin is just west of Borgarknappur,...
and Borgin are south-east of the village. There are several inland lakes and waterfalls. One of the waterfalls is named Fossurin Mikli. Only one road leads to the village, it goes through Øravík
Øravík
Øravík is a village on the east coast of the island of Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands. The village is located in the center of the island on a crossroad where the road to Fámjin goes towards west over the mountains to the west coast. One part of the village is located in the bay of Øravík, the other...
.
If you like to walk, go up from the village to the lake known as “Kirkjuvatn
Kirkjuvatn
Kirkjuvatn is a lake in Suðuroy, Faroe Islands. The lake is located just north of the village Fámjin, which is located on the west coast of Suðuroy. Fámjin is the only village on the island which is facing directly towards west...
” (Church Lake), one of the largest on the island.
The old mountain path between Fámjin and Vágur
Vágur
Vágur meaning Bay is a town on the Faroe Islands of Suðuroy, it is situated on the east coast of the island on the Vágsfjørður fjord, and dates from the fourteenth century. Expansion has meant that the nearby town of Nes is now a suburb of Vágur...
was originally the main road
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
between the two villages. The path goes through beautiful nature in the mountains south of Fámjin and runs along the cliffs to the west. There are cairns along the path. West of Fámjin by the end of the road is a gorge which is called Prestgjógv (The Priest's Gorge).
Fámjin is 9 km west of Øravík
Øravík
Øravík is a village on the east coast of the island of Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands. The village is located in the center of the island on a crossroad where the road to Fámjin goes towards west over the mountains to the west coast. One part of the village is located in the bay of Øravík, the other...
, which is on the west coast. Øravík is located on the east coast, around 3 km south of Krambatangi
Krambatangi
Krambatangi is the ferry port of Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands. The ferry Smyril M/F disembarks 2-3 times daily from Krambatangi to Tórshavn. Krambatangi is located on the southern side of Trongisvágsfjørður halfway between Trongisvágur and Øravík, opposite of Tvøroyri. The ferry port was earlier on...
ferry port. The distance from Fámjin to Tvøroyri
Tvøroyri
Tvøroyri lies picturesquely on the north side of the Trongisvágsfjørður on the east coast of Suðuroy, Faroe Islands....
is 16 km. The distance from Fámjin to Vágur
Vágur
Vágur meaning Bay is a town on the Faroe Islands of Suðuroy, it is situated on the east coast of the island on the Vágsfjørður fjord, and dates from the fourteenth century. Expansion has meant that the nearby town of Nes is now a suburb of Vágur...
is 29 km.
The naming of Fámjin
Tradition says that Fámjin used to be called Vesturvik. One day two men from the village were out on the sea fishing from their boat. There they saw a french sailship just lying there waiting for wind. The two men invited two ladies into their boat to see a large halibut. When the ladies were onboard the men quickly rowed towards their village with them. From the sail-ship they heard the Frenchmen shout "Femmes ... Femmes". After that day Vesturvik was called Fámjin. These things are said to have happened in the 16th century.History
The church in Fámjin was built in 1875, it was ready to use in 1876. In the church there is a runestone from the 16th century (see Fámjin stoneFámjin stone
The Fámjin stone is a runestone located in the church of Fámjin on the Faroe Islands. The stone bears both Latin and Runic letters. The stone is dated to the time after the Faroese reformation in 1538, and proves that runes were used up to as late as the 16th century. It is the youngest of the...
) (Faroese: Fámjinssteinurin). The stone bears both Latin and Runic letters. The stone is dated to the time after the Faroese reformation in 1538, and proves that runes were used up to as late as the 16th century. It is the youngest of the Faroese runestones.
In the church is the prototype of the Faroese flag Merkið. This flag was made by Jens Oliver Lisberg
Jens Oliver Lisberg
Jens Oliver Lisberg is one of the inventors of the Merkið, the flag of the Faroe Islands....
from Fámjin and others while they were studying in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in 1919. The first time "Merkið" was used in the Faroe Islands, was on June 22, 1919 in Famjin, the occasion was a wedding.
Merkið was not officially recognized in the beginning. However during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
prohibited the use of the flag of Denmark
Flag of Denmark
The national flag of Denmark, Dannebrog is red with a white Scandinavian cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side...
on Faroese ships as Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
was at that time occupied by Germany
Occupation of Denmark
Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark began with Operation Weserübung on 9 April 1940, and lasted until German forces withdrew at the end of World War II following their surrender to the Allies on 5 May 1945. Contrary to the situation in other countries under German occupation, most Danish...
. Therefore Merkið was run up on the ships instead. (April 25, 1940 is the official date of recognition)
Not until the verification of the home rule act in 1948 was Merkið recognized as the official flag of the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
.
Culture
Fámjin is well situated near rich fishing grounds. In the harborHarbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
, which is well-protected by the natural environment, the fishing boats moor in the summer at a small wharf
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
. During the winter the boats are pulled in from the quay and kept in boat houses nearby. As in other villages both fishing and sheep farming is a part of the daily routine. The sheep are gathered and led to slaughter in October.
During the summer months, however, the population increases significantly due to the many people from Fámjin who live in other villages on the Faroe Islands and in other countries, but return in the sheep herding and hay season, which takes place from the beginning of July to the end of August. This is the case in many small Faroese villages. The past years the number of tourists who visit the village has been increasing. The tourists come especially for one reason, they wish to see the original Faroese flag, Merkið, which is hanging inside the church. There are some houses for rent and a coffeshop is next to the harbour. Tourists enjoy also to go for a walk up the hill behind the church to the lake Kirkjuvatn
Kirkjuvatn
Kirkjuvatn is a lake in Suðuroy, Faroe Islands. The lake is located just north of the village Fámjin, which is located on the west coast of Suðuroy. Fámjin is the only village on the island which is facing directly towards west...
. The name means The Lake of the Church.
External links
- Faroeislands.dk: Famjin Images and description of all cities on the Faroe Islands.
- Fámjin - a set on Flickr
- Visitsuduroy.fo, The Tourist Information Center of Suðuroy.