Kirkjubøur (Danish: Kirkebø) is the southernmost village on Streymoy, Faroe Islands. The village is located on the south-west coast of Streymoy and has a view towards the islands of Hestur and Koltur towards the west, and to Sandoy towards the south. It lies south of the new ferry port of Gamlarætt, which opened in 1993.
Kirkjubøur Kirkebø | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Saint Olav's Church, Kirkjubøur at the left, and the old farmhouse of Kirkjubøargarður at the centre. In the background are the islands of Sandoy and Hestur. | |
  Kirkjubøur Location in the Faroe Islands | |
| Coordinates: 61°57′22″N 6°47′37″W / 61.95611°N 6.79361°W | |
| State |  Kingdom of Denmark |
| Constituent country |  Faroe Islands |
| Island | Streymoy |
| Municipality | Tórshavn Municipality |
| Population (1 January 2009) | |
• Total | 75 |
| Time zone | GMT |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (EST) |
| Postal code | FO 175 |
| Climate | Cfc |
The village is the Faroes' most important historical site, with the ruins of the Magnus Cathedral from around 1300, Saint Olav's Church (Olavskirkjan), from the 12th century and the old farmhouse of Kirkjubøargarður from the 11th century. In 1832, a runestone was found near the Magnus Cathedral in Kirkjubøur. The stone which is referred to as the Kirkjubøur stone dates back to the Viking Age.
The little islet just of the coast, Kirkjubøhólmur, contains an eiderduck colony. To the village belongs the islet of Trøllhøvdi, just 100m off the northern tip of Sandoy 9 km away from Kirkjubøur. It was given as payment to the villagers, as it was their duty to ferry people across to Sandoy in medieval times.
History
The village was important in the Middle Ages. At that time it was the episcopal residence for the Diocese of the Faroe Islands and as such the spiritual centre of the society. In those days the village is said to have had around 50 houses. The majority of these houses were washed away by a fierce storm in 1602, which created the islet Kirkjubøhólmurin, which contains ruins from that time. It is speculated that the church located the diocese in Kirkjubø, to counter the heathen Vé in Velbastaður only 5 km to the north west up the coast.
There are three main attractions from this time:
- Magnus Cathedral ruins from about 1300.
- Saint Olav's Church, the oldest still used church of the Faroes dating from 12th century.
- Kirkjubøargarður, the oldest still inhabited wooden house of the world from 11th century.
Notable residents
- Sverre I of Norway (1151–1202), grew up here.
- Bishop Erlendur (?-1308), who built the Magnus Cathedral and wrote the Sheep letter, the oldest document of the country.
- Súsanna Helena Patursson (1864–1916), first feminist of the Faroes.
- Jóannes Patursson (1866–1946), nationalist leader and writer.
- Sverri Patursson (1871–1960), writer, journalist and environmentalist.
- Erlendur Patursson (1913–1986), writer and nationalist politician.
- Tróndur Patursson (b. 1944), artist and adventurer.
Kirkjubøur chairs
The medieval carved pew ends from Saint Olav's Church are now to be found in the National Museum of the Faroe Islands. These were featured in three series of Faroese stamps, engraved by Czeslaw Slania. For the full series, see here.
Gallery
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Mediaeval carved pew ends from Saint Olav's Church -
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Ruins of Magnus Cathedral -
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Map showing the position of Kirkjubøur on Streymoy -
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A blizzard in Kirkjubøur -
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Islet of Kirkjubøhólmur and Saint Olav's Church. Island of Hestur in the distance -
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Kirkjubøur painting by Sámal Joensen-Mikines in Saint Olav's Church -
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Kirkjubøargarður (left), Ruins of Magnus Cathedral (center), Saint Olav's Church (right) -
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Detail of Magnus Cathedral ruins
See also
- List of towns in the Faroe Islands
References
- "Kirkjubøur". Visit the Faroe Islands. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- "Kirkjubøur". Visit Tórshavn. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- "Magnus Cathedral and the Kirkjubøur Village". fotostrasse.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- "Kirkjubøur". faroeislands.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- "Velbastaður". Tórshavn Municipality. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- Ljunggren, Karl Gustaf (1955-01-01). "Kirkjubøur, Velbstaður og Tórshavn". Fróðskaparrit 1955.
- "Magnus Cathedral, Catholic Church · Landmark & Historical Place". Facebook.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- "The oldest church in the Faroe Islands". tripadvisor.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- "Kirkjubøargarður". The Vintage News. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
External links
- Faroeislands.dk: Kirkjubøur Images and description of all cities on the Faroe Islands.
- Kirkjubøur, Faroe Islands: A Taste of Local History on Streymoy
Kirkjubour Danish Kirkebo is the southernmost village on Streymoy Faroe Islands The village is located on the south west coast of Streymoy and has a view towards the islands of Hestur and Koltur towards the west and to Sandoy towards the south It lies south of the new ferry port of Gamlaraett which opened in 1993 Kirkjubour KirkeboVillageSaint Olav s Church Kirkjubour at the left and the old farmhouse of Kirkjuboargardur at the centre In the background are the islands of Sandoy and Hestur KirkjubourLocation in the Faroe IslandsCoordinates 61 57 22 N 6 47 37 W 61 95611 N 6 79361 W 61 95611 6 79361State Kingdom of DenmarkConstituent country Faroe IslandsIslandStreymoyMunicipalityTorshavn MunicipalityPopulation 1 January 2009 Total75Time zoneGMT Summer DST UTC 1 EST Postal codeFO 175ClimateCfc The village is the Faroes most important historical site with the ruins of the Magnus Cathedral from around 1300 Saint Olav s Church Olavskirkjan from the 12th century and the old farmhouse of Kirkjuboargardur from the 11th century In 1832 a runestone was found near the Magnus Cathedral in Kirkjubour The stone which is referred to as the Kirkjubour stone dates back to the Viking Age The little islet just of the coast Kirkjuboholmur contains an eiderduck colony To the village belongs the islet of Trollhovdi just 100m off the northern tip of Sandoy 9 km away from Kirkjubour It was given as payment to the villagers as it was their duty to ferry people across to Sandoy in medieval times HistoryThe village was important in the Middle Ages At that time it was the episcopal residence for the Diocese of the Faroe Islands and as such the spiritual centre of the society In those days the village is said to have had around 50 houses The majority of these houses were washed away by a fierce storm in 1602 which created the islet Kirkjuboholmurin which contains ruins from that time It is speculated that the church located the diocese in Kirkjubo to counter the heathen Ve in Velbastadur only 5 km to the north west up the coast Saint Olav s Church There are three main attractions from this time Magnus Cathedral ruins from about 1300 Saint Olav s Church the oldest still used church of the Faroes dating from 12th century Kirkjuboargardur the oldest still inhabited wooden house of the world from 11th century Notable residentsSverre I of Norway 1151 1202 grew up here Bishop Erlendur 1308 who built the Magnus Cathedral and wrote the Sheep letter the oldest document of the country Susanna Helena Patursson 1864 1916 first feminist of the Faroes Joannes Patursson 1866 1946 nationalist leader and writer Sverri Patursson 1871 1960 writer journalist and environmentalist Erlendur Patursson 1913 1986 writer and nationalist politician Trondur Patursson b 1944 artist and adventurer Kirkjubour chairsThe medieval carved pew ends from Saint Olav s Church are now to be found in the National Museum of the Faroe Islands These were featured in three series of Faroese stamps engraved by Czeslaw Slania For the full series see here GalleryMediaeval carved pew ends from Saint Olav s Church Ruins of Magnus Cathedral Map showing the position of Kirkjubour on Streymoy A blizzard in Kirkjubour Islet of Kirkjuboholmur and Saint Olav s Church Island of Hestur in the distance Kirkjubour painting by Samal Joensen Mikines in Saint Olav s Church Kirkjuboargardur left Ruins of Magnus Cathedral center Saint Olav s Church right Detail of Magnus Cathedral ruinsSee alsoList of towns in the Faroe IslandsReferences Kirkjubour Visit the Faroe Islands Retrieved November 1 2017 Kirkjubour Visit Torshavn Retrieved November 1 2017 Magnus Cathedral and the Kirkjubour Village fotostrasse com Retrieved November 1 2017 Kirkjubour faroeislands com Retrieved November 1 2017 Velbastadur Torshavn Municipality Retrieved November 1 2017 Ljunggren Karl Gustaf 1955 01 01 Kirkjubour Velbstadur og Torshavn Frodskaparrit 1955 Magnus Cathedral Catholic Church Landmark amp Historical Place Facebook com Retrieved November 1 2017 The oldest church in the Faroe Islands tripadvisor com Retrieved November 1 2017 Kirkjuboargardur The Vintage News Retrieved November 1 2017 External linksFaroeislands dk Kirkjubour Images and description of all cities on the Faroe Islands Kirkjubour Faroe Islands A Taste of Local History on StreymoyWikimedia Commons has media related to Kirkjubour
