Tórshavn

Tórshavn owes its name to one of the old Nordic Gods, Thor (Tórshavn = Thor’s Harbour).

The town was founded about 825 a.d. when the first Norwegian settlers (the Landnámsmenn) colonised the islands. Today we know, however, that Irish monks have stayed in The Faroe Islands a hundred years earlier (727 a.d.).

Tórshavn has about 15.000 inhabitants. It may be the smallest capital in the world, but is certainly a town of today.
Tórshavn has many points of interest for tourists, such as museums, buildings (churches etc.), monuments, parks and other sites. The thriving harbour includes also the small promontory Tinganes, the site of the oldest -still active- parliament in the world: Løgtingið.

Other points of interest are:

Skansin:

An old fortification, built in 1580, as protection against sea-pirates. It was later modernised and enlarged. During the Napoleonic wars (Approx. 1800) it was considered the strongest fortification in Northern Europe. During the second world war (1939 - 45), The Faroe Islands were occupied by British forces. Skansin was used as headquarters for the Royal Navy Command here.

Tinganes:

Here the first Norwegian settlers established their parliament (Ting) in 825. Christianity was introduced on this Ting in the year 999 a.d. by Sigmund Brestisson, a Faroese who turned a Norwegian housecarl. The oldest settlements of the town are also situated here. Many buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries are still intact.

The Town Square:

A very busy centre. Here Løgtingið (the House of Parliament) and Town Municipality are found. A pedestrian street leads from the town square northwards through one of the shopping areas.

S.M.S. Shopping Centre:

Situated less than half a mile from the town square at R.C. Effersøesgøta, one of the busy thoroughfares of the town, provides many facilities, such as bank, post office and pharmacy, beside what is normally found in shopping centres.

Kongaminnið:

An obelisk on a hill in the middle of Tórshavn. Was erected in commemoration of the first visit ever by a Danish king (in 1882) to The Faroe Islands.

The Nordic House:

Was consecrated in 1983. It was built by the Nordic governments in union as a mean to have closer connection between the cultures of the Nordic countries. It is a unique building providing many different possibilities for exhibitions, performances, concerts etc.