Tórshavn
Encyclopedia
Tórshavn (ˈtʰɔuʂhaun; Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
: Thorshavn) is the capital and largest town 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...
. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy
Streymoy
Streymoy is the largest and most populated island of the Faroe Islands. The capital, Tórshavn is located there. The name means "island of currents".- Geography :...
. To the north west of the town lies the 347 metres (1,138.5 ft) high mountain Húsareyn
Húsareyn
Húsareyn is a mountain located on the island of Streymoy, the largest of the Faroe Islands, Denmark. Standing at above sea level it is a high mountain, yet dwarfed by other Faroese mountains such as Slættaratindur....
, and to the southwest, the 350 metres (1,148.3 ft) high Kirkjubøreyn. The city proper has a population of 13,000 (2008), and the greater urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
a population of 19,000.
The Vikings established their parliament on the Tinganes peninsula
Tinganes
Tinganes is the historic location of the Faroese landsstýri , and is a part of Tórshavn. The name means "parliament jetty" or "parliament point" in Faroese....
in 850 CE, thus Tórshavn was made capital of 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...
and has remained so ever since. All through the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the narrow peninsula jutting out into the sea made up the main part of Tórshavn. Sources do not mention a built-up area in Tórshavn until after the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in 1539. Early on, Tórshavn became the center of the monopoly trade, thereby being the only legal place for the islanders to sell and buy goods. In 1856, the trade monopoly was abolished and the islands were left open to free trade. The town has grown rapidly ever since the turn of the 20th century into the undisputed administrative, economic and cultural center of the Faroes.
Etymology
The name of the town means ThorThor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
's Harbour, and it may be named after the god of thunder
Thunder
Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Depending on the nature of the lightning and distance of the listener, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble . The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within...
and lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
in Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
; thus the town's coat of arms shows Thor's hammer Mjolnir, but more likely it was named after the first settler whose name then was Thor. The Faroese usually refer to their capital as Havn (“harbour”).
Early history
According to the earliest source to the Faroe Islands, Færeyinga SagaFæreyinga Saga
The Færeyinga Saga , the Norse saga of Faroemen, is the story of how the Faroes were converted to Christianity and became a part of the Kingdom of Norway.-Summary:It was written in Iceland shortly after 1200...
, emigrants who left Norway to escape the tyranny of Harald I of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
settled in the islands about the end of the 9th century. The Viking settlers established their own parliament called ting
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
. Local tings where established in different parts of the islands. The main ting was established on Tinganes
Tinganes
Tinganes is the historic location of the Faroese landsstýri , and is a part of Tórshavn. The name means "parliament jetty" or "parliament point" in Faroese....
in Tórshavn 825. Tinganes is the peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
that divides the harbour into the two parts Eystaravág and Vestaravág. Færeyinga Saga says: "the ting stead of the Faroese was on Streymoy, and there is the harbour that is called Tórshavn". In the Viking Age it was a tradition to hold the ting at a neutral and thus uninhabited place, so nobody had an advantage of the location. In fact, there was no settlement at Tinganes to that time, but it was the most central place of the islands. The Vikings would meet on the flat rocks of Tinganes every summer. The Viking age eventually ended in 1035. The ting was followed by a market which gradually grew into a permanent trading area.
All through the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, the narrow peninsula jutting out into the sea made up the main part of Tórshavn. It belonged to the outfield of two farmers. Although, unlike the rest of the Faroese villages, Tórshavn was never a distinct farming community. In 1271, a royal trade monopoly was established in Tórshavn by the Norwegian Crown. During the 12th century, all trade between Norway and the Faroes, along with other tributary islands to the west, became centralised in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. According to a document from 1271, two ships would sail regularly to Tórshavn from Bergen with cargoes of salt, timber and cereal. Tórshavn therefore had more contact with the outside world than the other villages. Under the Norwegian and then later Danish rule, the government officials made Tórshavn their home. All of these things put together with the fact that Tórshavn was the thingstead of the islands influenced the town’s development in a different direction.
1500–1800
Sources do not mention a built-up area in Tórshavn until after the Protestant reformation in 1539.When pirate attacks became quite frequent in the Faroes it became a priority to protect the town and its trade. In ca. 1580 a small fort, Skansin
Skansin
Skansin is a historic fortress in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands.Skansin is located on a hill beside the port of Tórshavn. The fort was built in 1580 by Magnus Heinason to protect against pirate raids of the town, after he himself was nearly caught up in one such raid...
, was built by the Faroese naval hero and trader Magnus Heinason
Magnus Heinason
Magnus Heinason was a Faroese naval hero, trader and privateer. He was the son of Heine Havreki, a Norwegian priest from Bergen who emigrated to the Faroe Islands and who helped introduce the Lutheran Reformation to the Faroe Islands, and Gyri Arnbjørnsdatter, Havreki's second wife from a...
at the north end of the harbour. Later small fortifications were built at Tinganes.
Proletariat
The proletariat is a term used to identify a lower social class, usually the working class; a member of such a class is proletarian...
from the villages that during this period came to Tórshavn in search of work. They were imposed guard duty on Skansin without pay, for clothing and food they depended on the bounty of the farmers.
In 1655 king Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III was king of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death. He instituted absolute monarchy in Denmark and Norway in 1660, confirmed by law in 1665 as the first in western historiography. He was born the second-eldest son of Christian IV of Denmark and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg...
endowed the Faroe Islands to his favourite statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
Kristoffer Gabel
Kristoffer Gabel
Christoffer Gabel was a Danish statesman.He was born on January 6, 1617, at Glückstadt. His father, Wulbern or Waldemar Gabel, originally a cartographer and subsequently recorder of Glückstadt, was killed at the siege of the fortress there, by the German Imperial Army, in 1628...
, the rule of the von Gabel Family, 1655–1709, is known as Gablatíðin. It is the darkest chapter in the history of Tórshavn. Gabel's administration suppressed the islanders in various ways. The trade monopoly was in the family’s hands and it wasn’t designed for the needs of the Faroese people. People across the country brought products into town and had to be satisfied with whatever price they were given. At the same time imported goods were limited and expensive. There came considerable complaints from the islands' inhabitants of unjust treatment by the civil administration in Tórshavn. These not only included the persons in charge of the monopoly trade, but also the bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
and others. It was during this period, in 1673, that Tinganes was ravaged by a fire. A store of gunpowder kept at Tinganes had blown up. Many old houses burnt to the ground and old Faroese records where lost as were Gabel's documents.
Conditions improved in Tórshavn when the trade monopoly became a royal monopoly in 1709. The royal monopoly was supplied with goods from 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...
three times a year. However, in 1709 Tórshavn was hit by a plague of smallpox, killing nearly the entire population. The town had by this time reached a population of 300 and 250 of the inhabitants died. Still, it was during the latter half of the 18th century that Tórshavn started to develop into a small town. This was while Niels Ryberg was in charge of the trade monopoly. From 1768 and during the next 20 years onwards Ryberg was allowed to carry on an entrepot trade which was mainly based on smuggling to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Because of the French-British conflict there was room for this kind of operation. In Tórshavn his warehouses filled up with goods. Ryberg was the first person who thought of making a financial profit from fishing, which later became the most important economic factor to the islands. He experimented with salted cod and herring but at this point in time nothing much beyond this happened.
Tórshavn Cathedral
Tórshavn Cathedral
Tórshavner Cathedral is the second oldest received church of the Faroe Islands, on Tinganes in the old town of Tórshavn. Painted white, and roofed with slate, it was established in 1788. The cathedral church lies in the north of the peninsula Tinganes and is one of the main attractions of the town...
was first built in 1788 and partly rebuilt in 1865. Since 1990, it has been the seat of the Bishop of the Faroe Islands (in the Church of the Faroe Islands
Church of the Faroe Islands
The Church of the Faroe Islands was a diocese of the Lutheran Church of Denmark until it became independent on 29 July 2007, as the smallest of the world's few remaining state churches....
).
1800–present
On 30 March 1808, during the Gunboat WarGunboat War
The Gunboat War was the naval conflict between Denmark–Norway and the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The war's name is derived from the Danish tactic of employing small gunboats against the conventional Royal Navy...
, the Cruizer class brig-sloop
Cruizer class brig-sloop
The Cruizer class was an 18-gun class of brig-sloops of the Royal Navy. Brig-sloops were the same as ship-sloops except for their rigging...
HMS Clio entered Tórshavn and briefly captured the fort at Skansin. The fort surrendered without firing a shot as the landing party approached. Clio spiked the fort's eight 18-pounder guns, and took all the smaller guns and weapons before leaving. Shortly after 6 May a German privateer who had assumed the name "Baron von Hompesch" plundered the defenseless city and seized the property of the Danish Crown Monopoly. The Admiralty Prize Court, however, refused to condemn it as a lawful prize. Later, after the Jørgen Jørgensen
Jørgen Jørgensen
Jørgen Jørgensen was a Danish adventurer during the Age of Revolution. During the Action of 2 March 1808 his ship was captured by the British. In 1809 he sailed to Iceland, declared the country independent from Denmark and pronounced himself its ruler...
affair (see also HMS Talbot
HMS Talbot (1807)
HMS Talbot was a British Royal Navy 18-gun sloop-of-war built by James Heath & Sons, of East Teignmouth and launched in 1807. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was the reversal of the liberation of Iceland that the colorful, erratic, former Royal Navy seaman and privateer Jørgen Jørgensen had...
) Britain declared the Faroese, the Icelanders, and the settlers in Greenland as "stranger friends" who were to be left in peace.
In 1856, free trade came to the Faroe Islands. It opened the islands up to the world and transformed the economy and Tórshavn forged ahead. The farming land was rented out to townspeople who could later buy it if they wished to. These small plots of land eased people’s existence considerably, as they now could be able to keep a cow and perhaps some sheep. The population grew considerably.
In 1866, Tórshavn's town council was founded. The town has been the capital of the Faroe Islands ever since. And later, in 1909, Tórshavn became a market town with the same municipal charter as Danish market towns.
In 1927, Tórshavn had a modern harbour built. This made it possible for larger ships to berth.
During the British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II
British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II
The British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II, also known as "Operation Valentine," was implemented immediately following the German invasion of Denmark and Norway....
, Skansin was used as the headquarter of The Royal Navy Commands and two 5.5" guns, used aboard before World War II, were deployed.
Today Tórshavn is prosperous and full of activity. In 1974, the neighbouring villages Hoyvík
Hoyvík
Hoyvík is the third largest town in the Faroe Islands. It has grown in size for many years and is now merged with Tórshavn becoming a northern suburb of the Faroese capital. A person from Hoyvík is known as a hoyvíkingur....
and Hvítanes
Hvítanes
Hvítanes is a village in the Faroe Islands, noted for its beauty . It is on Streymoy's east coast, northeast of Hoyvík and Tórshavn. Its name means "White Point" in Faroese.*Population: 99*Postal code : FO 187*Location: *Municipality: Tórshavnar...
were made part of the town area. Later even more municipalities joined the Tórshavn municipality. In 1978 Kaldbak, in 1997 Argir, in 2001 Kollafjørður and finally in 2005 Kirkjubøur, Hestur and Nólsoy.
Politics and government
Tórshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands, and as such is the seat of the Faroes’ home rule government. The government holds the executive power in local government affairs. Today the government is located on the TinganesTinganes
Tinganes is the historic location of the Faroese landsstýri , and is a part of Tórshavn. The name means "parliament jetty" or "parliament point" in Faroese....
peninsula of Tórshavn. The parliament, the Løgting
Løgting
Løgting is the unicameral parliament of the Faroe Islands, a self-ruling dependency of Denmark.The name literally means "Law Thing" - that is, a law assembly - and derives from Old Norse lǫgþing, which was a name given to ancient assemblies. A ting or Þing has existed on the Faroe Islands for over...
, which was originally located on Tinganes, was relocated to the town square in 1856.
Climate
Due to the proximity to the Gulf StreamGulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
, Tórshavn features a well-moderated subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc), with chilly summers, and mild winters with temperatures usually not below freezing. The climate can be very unpleasant, however, owing to the persistent strong winds and extreme lack of sunshine. Tórshavn is the gloomiest place in the world with significant sunshine records at only about 2.4 hours of sunshine per day; however no data whatsoever exist for places such as the Aleutian Islands or southern Chile
Zona Austral
The Zona Austral is one of the five natural regions into which CORFO divided continental Chile in 1950 corresponding to the Chilean portion of Patagonia. It is surrounded by the Southern Zone and the Chacao Channel to the north, the Pacific Ocean and Drake's Passage to the south and west, and the...
which may have even less sun.
Sport
Tórshavn, as the capital city, is the centre of sport in the islands; the largest sports centre is located in the GundadalurGundadalur
Gundadalur is the name of an area in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. It is home of different football fields and other sports facilities . The largest one is the National stadium Tórsvøllur, a multi-use stadium....
district of Tórshavn. Also, the largest football stadium, Tórsvøllur
Tórsvøllur
Tórsvøllur is a football stadium on the sport site Gundadalur in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. The stadium holds 6,040 people and was built in 1999 to provide a grass surface in the island's capital on which international football matches could be played...
, is located here, seating 6,000 spectators. The stadium serves as home to the Faroe Islands men's football team
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
. Around the city there are also two other football pitches, indoor tennis courts, badminton courts and a swimming pool.
The city has several football clubs, including three Premier League teams: HB Tórshavn, B36 Tórshavn
B36 Tórshavn
B36 Tórshavn or F.C. Tórshavn is a Faroese football club, based in the capital, Tórshavn...
and Argja Bóltfelag
Argja Bóltfelag
Argja Bóltfelag is an Faroese football club based in Argir. They played in the 1. deild, the second highest division in Faroese football, and they came in as runners up in second place, so now they played in Faroe Islands Premier League in 2010. However, they ended as number 10 and are now back in...
. Other football clubs with connections to the city are FF Giza (Nólsoy
Nólsoy
Nólsoy is an island and village in central Faroe Islands, located to the east of the capital Tórshavn in Streymoy. There is only one settlement on the island: Nólsoy on the north-west coast on Stongin, a peninsula attached to the rest of the island by a metres-wide isthmus...
), FC Hoyvík
FC Hoyvík
FC Hoyvík is a Faroese football club, they currently play in the 1. deild. They were previously named IF Fram Tórshavn .The club is located in the Hoyvík district, a suburb of the capital Tórshavn, Faroe Islands....
and Undrið FF. Handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
is the second most popular sport in Tórshavn. The city's handball teams are Kyndil
Kyndil
Kyndil is a Faroese handball club in Tórshavn, which was founded on 10 March 1956. Kyndil has team in the best divisions for both men and women, the club has also children's teams for boys and girls. The men's team of Kyndil has won the Faroese Championships 30 times in the Atlantic Airways Division...
, Neistin
Neistin
Neistin is a Faroese handball club in Tórshavn, which was founded on 21 March 1931. Neistin has many different teams for men and women, boys and girls. They have teams in the men's best division, which is named after the head sponsor which is Atlantic Airways: Atlantic Airways deildin . Neistin has...
and Ítróttafelagið H71 and the Faroe Island's national handball team
Faroe Islands national handball team
The Faroe Islands national handball team is the national handball team of Faroe Islands and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Handball Association.- Current squad :...
practice in the city. Tórshavn city has several popular rowing clubs, including, Havnar Róðrarfelag
Havnar Róðrarfelag
Havnar Róðrarfelag is a Faroese rowing club in Tórshavn. Havnar Róðrarfelag was founded on 25 June 1932. The club is the most winning Faroese rowing club since 1973, and has won 60 Faroese championships, Argja Róðrarfelag comes second with 21 championships...
and Róðrarfelagið Knørrur
Róðrarfelagið Knørrur
Róðrarfelagið Knørrur is a Faroese rowing club in Tórshavn, which was founded on 28 February 1985. The club has its boat house on Skálatrøð in Tórshavn. The boats compete in the rowing competitions which are held every summer around the islands. The row boats are blue with a white line around the...
.
Transport
The harbour is served by the Smyril Line
Smyril Line
Smyril Line is a Faroese shipping company, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland, previously, it also served Norway and the United Kingdom. Smyril is the Faroese word for the merlin....
international ferry service to 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...
and Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. The harbour is also used by domestic ferry services of Strandfaraskip Landsins
Strandfaraskip Landsins
Strandfaraskip Landsins is the public transport company of the Faroe Islands. It is owned by the Faroese government and runs ferries and buses ....
within the Faroe Islands, chiefly on the route to Tvøroyri
Tvøroyri
Tvøroyri lies picturesquely on the north side of the Trongisvágsfjørður on the east coast of Suðuroy, Faroe Islands....
.
The town is served by Bussleiðin - a network of local buses. Buses also depart to villages throughout the islands.
There is a helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
in Tórshavn; the nearest airport is Vágar Airport
Vágar Airport
Vágar Airport is the only airport in the Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, and is located east of Sørvágur. Due to the Faroe Islands' rather anomalous status, the airport is not fully subject to the rules of the European Union...
.
Music
The Tórshavn Jazz FestivalTórshavn Jazz Festival
The Tórshavn Jazz Festival or the Torshavn Jazz, Folk, and Blues Festival is an annual music festival held in the month of August in the city of Tórshavn, capital of the Faroe Islands....
has been held annually since 1983. It attracts musicians from all over North America and Europe and has become a popular tourist event.
Sites of interest
- TinganesTinganesTinganes is the historic location of the Faroese landsstýri , and is a part of Tórshavn. The name means "parliament jetty" or "parliament point" in Faroese....
, the old part of town, it is still made up of small wooden houses covered with turf roofs. The oldest one dates back 500 years. - Tórshavn CathedralTórshavn CathedralTórshavner Cathedral is the second oldest received church of the Faroe Islands, on Tinganes in the old town of Tórshavn. Painted white, and roofed with slate, it was established in 1788. The cathedral church lies in the north of the peninsula Tinganes and is one of the main attractions of the town...
, the second oldest church in the country. - Tórshavn harbour.
- Fort SkansinSkansinSkansin is a historic fortress in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands.Skansin is located on a hill beside the port of Tórshavn. The fort was built in 1580 by Magnus Heinason to protect against pirate raids of the town, after he himself was nearly caught up in one such raid...
, a historic site dating back to the sixteenth century - Listasavn Føroya, the Faroese art museum.
- The main church, Vesturkirkjan, with outside art work by Hans Pauli OlsenHans Pauli OlsenHans Pauli Olsen is a sculptor based in Denmark, and held in high regard.He is one of the most popular artists in the Faroes. His work is to be found not only in art galleries but in many towns in the Faroes, especially in the Faroese capital Tórshavn...
. - The Nordic House in the Faroe IslandsNordic House in the Faroe IslandsThe Nordic House is the most important cultural institution in the Faroe Islands. Its aim is to support and promote Nordic and Faroese culture, locally and in the Nordic region- History :...
, the most important cultural institution in the Faroes. - The historical museum in Hoyvík, with all its treasures.
- The museum of Natural History, with a small botanical garden with 150 Faroese plants.
- Niels Finsens gøta, Tórshavn's only pedestrianised street.
Institutions in Tórshavn
- Løgtingið and Landstýrið, is the Faroese parliament and government with all its national institutions.
- Faroese television and Radio Faroe Islands, both publicly owned.
- University of the Faroe IslandsUniversity of the Faroe IslandsThe University of the Faroe Islands is a state-run university located in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands. It consists of three faculties: Faroese Language and Literature, Science and Technology, and History and Social Sciences. The university offers bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D.'s in...
, situated next to the national archives, a navigational college, a teachers college, etc. - Postverk FøroyaPostverk FøroyaPosta is the postal service of the Faroe Islands and was founded on 1 April 1976 under the Home Rule of the Faroe Islands. On 16 December 2005, it became a public joint stock company under the name P/F Postverk Føroya ....
is the postal service of the Faroe Islands. - 11 countries have a representative Consul in Tórshavn: BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, GreeceGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe 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...
and SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. - IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
has an embassy in Tórshavn.
Notable natives and inhabitants
- Niels Ryberg FinsenNiels Ryberg FinsenNiels Ryberg Finsen was a Faroese-Danish physician and scientist of Icelandic descent. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1903 "in recognition of his contribution to the treatment of diseases, especially lupus vulgaris, with concentrated light radiation, whereby he has...
(1860–1904), winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology 1903. - Petur AlbergPetur AlbergPetur Alberg , Faroese violinplayer and songwriter from Tórshavn. He composed the anthem of the Faroes, Mítt alfagra land or Tú alfagra land mítt as it is usually called.-References:...
(1885–1940), composer, most famous for composing the national anthemTú alfagra land míttTú alfagra land mítt , officially entitled Mítt alfagra land, is the national anthem of the Faroe Islands. The anthem's lyrics, composed in 1906, are by Símun av Skarði and the melody by Peter Alberg .... - William HeinesenWilliam HeinesenAndreas William Heinesen was a poet, composer and painter from the Faroe Islands.- His Writing :The Faroese capital Tórshavn is always the centre of Heinesen's writing. He is famous for having once called Tórshavn "The Navel of the World". His writing focuses on contrasts between darkness and...
(1900–1991), writer, poet, composer and painter. - Jørgen-Frantz JacobsenJørgen-Frantz JacobsenJørgen-Frantz Jacobsen occupies a distinct place in Scandinavian literature. He is the only Faroese writer to achieve international best-seller status...
(1900–1938), writer. - Høgni ReistrupHøgni ReistrupHøgni Reistrup is a singer-songwriter and artist from Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. His influences include Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, and Kári P. Reistrup also has a background in classical music.- Discography :...
(1984-), musician and song-writer - Ingálvur av ReyniIngálvur av ReyniIngálvur av Reyni was the most celebrated painter of the Faroe Islands during the last years.Ingálvur av Reyni was born in Tórshavn. He rebelled through his expressionism against the epic content of his predecessors' art, and has opened up new paths in his painting...
(1920–2005), painter. - Janus KambanJanus KambanJanus Kamban is a Faroese sculptor and last living representative from the "first generation" of professional artists in the Faroe Islands.Kamban is the first and most important sculptor in the Faroe Islands...
(1913–2009), sculptor. - Zacharias HeinesenZacharias HeinesenZacharias Heinesen is a Faroese landscape painter. He is the son of the writer William Heinesen.He attended Myndlistaskóli Íslands in Reykjavik between 1957-58. In 1959-1963 he attended the Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen. Through the years he has held a number of exhibitions and his...
(1936), painter. - Katrin OttarsdóttirKatrin OttarsdóttirKatrin Ottarsdóttir is a Faroese movie director.Katrin Ottarsdóttir went to Denmark in 1976 and is the first person from the Faroe Islands to study at the film school in Copenhagen...
(1957), filmmaker.
Twin cities
Tórshavn is twinned with:| – Asker Asker Asker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Viken traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Asker. The municipality is a suburb of Oslo, the national capital... , Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... – Garðabær Garðabær Garðabær is a municipality in the Greater Reykjavík area of Iceland.As of January 2011, its population was 10,909.... , Iceland Iceland Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population... – Reykjavík Reykjavík Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay... , Iceland Iceland Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population... – Jakobstad Jakobstad Jakobstad is a town and municipality in Ostrobothnia, Finland. The town has a population of and covers a land area of . The population density is .- History :... , Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
– Mariehamn Mariehamn Mariehamn is the capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty. Mariehamn is the seat of the Government and Parliament of Åland, and 40% of the population of Åland live in the city... , Åland, Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... – Eslöv Eslöv Eslöv is a city and the seat of Eslöv Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 16,551 inhabitants in 2005.Eslöv is part of the Øresund Region and is today largely serving as a suburb of Malmö and Lund.-History:... , Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... – Birkerød Birkerød Birkerød is a town and was a municipality in Frederiksborg County on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark... , 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... – Riolunato Riolunato Riolunato is a comune in the Province of Modena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 60 km southwest of Bologna and about 50 km southwest of Modena. It is overlooked from the south by the Monte Cimone.... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Other sources
- Havsteen-Mikkelsen, Sven (1995) Føroyinga søga (Bjarni Niclasen, týddi; Jørgen Haugan, skrivaði eftirmæli. Tórshavn: Føroya skúlabókagrunnur)
External links
- Tórshavn Municipality webiste
- faroeislands.dk: Tórshavn — Images and description of Tórshavn