Tórshavn

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Tórshavn
Thorshavn
Tinganes, Tórshavn old town

Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Havn
Tórshavn
Location in Faroe Islands
Coordinates: 62°0′42″N 6°46′3″W / 62.01167°N 6.76750°W / 62.01167; -6.76750Coordinates: 62°0′42″N 6°46′3″W / 62.01167°N 6.76750°W / 62.01167; -6.76750
State  Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent Country  Faroe Islands
Municipality Tórshavn municipality
Founded 10th century
Town rights 1909
Government
 • Mayor Heðin Mortensen (Javnaðarflokkurin)
Area
 • Land 172.9 km2 (66.8 sq mi)
Elevation 24 m (79 ft)
Population (2012)
 • City 12,256
 • Density 78/km2 (200/sq mi)
 • Metro 19,801
 • Metro density 125/km2 (320/sq mi)
  population-ranking: 1st
Postal code FO-100, FO-110
Website www.torshavn.fo

Tórshavn (IPA: [ˈtʰɔuʂhaun]; Danish: Thorshavn) is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the 347-meter (1,138 ft) high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the 350-meter (1,150 ft) high Kirkjubøreyn. The town proper has a population of 13,000 (2008), and the greater urban area a population of 19,000.

The Vikings established their parliament on the Tinganes peninsula in 850 CE,[1] thus Tórshavn was made capital of Faroe Islands and has remained so ever since. All through the Middle Ages 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 Reformation in 1539. Early on, Tórshavn became the centre 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 centre of the Faroes.

Etymology

The name of the town means Thor's Harbour, and is likely named after the god of thunder and lightning in Norse mythology (thus the town's coat of arms shows Thor's hammer Mjolnir).

History

Early history

Tórshavn 1839.

It is not known whether the site of Tórshavn was of interest to the Celtic monks who were probably the first settlers in the Faroes. The Viking settlers in the 9th century established their own parliaments, called tings, in different parts of the islands, it being the tradition in each case to hold the ting at a neutral and thus uninhabited place, so no one location gave anyone an advantage. And the main ting for the islands was convoked in Tórshavn in 825, on Tinganes, the peninsula that divides the harbour into the two parts Eystaravág and Vestaravág. The Vikings would thus meet on the flat rocks of Tinganes every summer, as the most central place on the islands, although there was no settlement at Tinganes at that time. The Færeyinga Saga says: "the place of the ting of the Faroese was on Streymoy, and there is the harbour that is called Tórshavn". The Viking age ended in 1035. The ting was followed by a market which gradually grew into a permanent trading area.

All through the Middle Ages, the narrow peninsula jutting out into the sea made up the main part of Tórshavn. It belonged to the outfield of two farmers. Unlike other Faroese villages, Tórshavn was never a distinct farming community. During the 12th century, all trade between Norway and the Faroes, along with other tributary islands to the west, became centralised in Bergen. In 1271, a royal trade monopoly was established in Tórshavn by the Norwegian Crown. 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 did the other villages. Under the Norwegian, and then Danish rule, government officials made Tórshavn their home. All of these things, combined with the fact that Tórshavn was the seat of the ting of the islands, influenced the town’s development.

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, was built by the Faroese naval hero and trader Magnus Heinason at the north end of the harbour. Later small fortifications were built at Tinganes.
Skansin has been rebuilt several times since it was first built in 1580; the last time it was re-built was in 1790. This picture is from 2004.

In 1584 Tórshavn had 101 inhabitants. The population was divided into three equally large groups made up of farmers, their families and servants, trade and government officials and people who owned no land and therefore not much else; this included the landless proletariat from the villages that during this period came to Tórshavn in search of work. They were set to guard duty on Skansin without pay, and for clothing and food they depended on the bounty of the farmers.

In 1655 king Frederick III of Denmark granted the Faroe Islands to his favourite statesman Kristoffer Gabel, 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 was not 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 and others. It was during this period, in 1673, that Tinganes was ravaged by a fire after a store of gunpowder kept at Tinganes had blown up. Many old houses burnt to the ground and old Faroese records were 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 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. 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 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).

Tórshavn 1864, the Løgting in the top left
Tórshavn centre, with the cathedral and Bryggjubakki street (left) and Undir Bryggjubakka street (right).
Tórshavn Harbour Ferry Terminal, view towards Tinganes and 'Vesturbýur' The Western Town.

1800–present

On 30 March 1808, during the Gunboat War, the Cruizer class brig-sloop 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 affair (see also HMS Talbot) 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, Skansin was used as the headquarter of the Royal Navy Commands and two 5.5" guns, used aboard HMS Furious before World War II, were deployed.[2]

Today Tórshavn is prosperous and full of activity. In 1974, the neighbouring villages Hoyvík and Hvítanes 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’ self rule government. The government holds the executive power in local government affairs. Today a part of the government is located on the Tinganes peninsula of Tórshavn, the Prime Minister's office is here and the Ministry of Internal Affairs was here until it was closed in 2013. The other ministries are located in other office buildings in various places in Tórshavn, i.e. the Ministry of Health[3] and the Ministry of Social Affairs[4] are located near the Hospital of the Faroes in Eirargarður, and the Ministry of Finance is located in Argir in a building called Albert Hall on the street Kvíggjartún.[5] The parliament, the Løgting, which was originally located on Tinganes, was relocated to the town square, Vaglið, in 1856.

Climate

Owing to the proximity to the Gulf Stream, Tórshavn features a well-moderated subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc), with chilly summers, and mild winters with temperatures usually not below freezing. Tórshavn is among the cloudiest places 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 which may have even less sun.

Climate data for Tórshavn (1961-1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 5.3
(41.5)		 5.5
(41.9)		 5.9
(42.6)		 7.2
(45)		 9.1
(48.4)		 11.3
(52.3)		 12.5
(54.5)		 12.8
(55)		 11.2
(52.2)		 9.4
(48.9)		 6.7
(44.1)		 5.8
(42.4)		 8.56
(47.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.4
(38.1)		 3.6
(38.5)		 3.8
(38.8)		 4.9
(40.8)		 6.9
(44.4)		 9.0
(48.2)		 10.3
(50.5)		 10.6
(51.1)		 9.1
(48.4)		 7.5
(45.5)		 4.8
(40.6)		 3.8
(38.8)		 6.48
(43.64)
Average low °C (°F) 1.2
(34.2)		 1.5
(34.7)		 1.5
(34.7)		 2.6
(36.7)		 4.8
(40.6)		 7.0
(44.6)		 8.3
(46.9)		 8.5
(47.3)		 7.1
(44.8)		 5.4
(41.7)		 2.7
(36.9)		 1.6
(34.9)		 4.35
(39.83)
Precipitation mm (inches) 153
(6.02)		 113
(4.45)		 137
(5.39)		 93
(3.66)		 72
(2.83)		 67
(2.64)		 81
(3.19)		 88
(3.46)		 142
(5.59)		 177
(6.97)		 143
(5.63)		 171
(6.73)		 1,437
(56.56)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 22 17 21 16 13 12 13 13 18 22 21 22 210
% humidity 90 89 89 87 88 88 90 90 90 90 89 90 89.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 14 36 71 106 124 125 111 98 80 49 20 7 841
Source: NOAA [6][7]

Sport

A boat race at the Jóansøka Festival in Tvøroyri in June 2011.

Tórshavn, as the capital city, is the centre of sport in the islands; the largest sports centre is located in the Gundadalur district of Tórshavn. Also, the largest football stadium, Tórsvøllur, is located here, seating 6,000 spectators. The stadium serves as home to the Faroe Islands national football team. 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 and Argja Bóltfelag. Other football clubs with connections to the city are FF Giza (Nólsoy), FC Hoyvík and Undrið FF. Handball is the second most popular sport in Tórshavn. The city's handball teams are Kyndil, Neistin and Ítróttafelagið H71 and the Faroe Island's national handball team practice in the city. Tórshavn city has several popular rowing clubs, including, Havnar Róðrarfelag and Róðrarfelagið Knørrur.[8]

Every year in July the Tour of Faroe Islands, which is a road bicycle racing, is held around the islands. The race is called Kring Føroyar (Tour de Faroe / Around the Faroes), it starts in Klaksvík and ends in Tórshavn.[9]

Transport

A map of Tórshavn showing road links
See also: Transport in the Faroe Islands

The harbour is served by the Smyril Line international ferry service to Denmark and Iceland. The harbour is also used by domestic ferry services of Strandfaraskip Landsins within the Faroe Islands, chiefly on the route to Tvøroyri.

The town is served by Bussleiðin - a network of local buses. Buses also depart to villages throughout the islands.

There is a helipad in Tórshavn; the nearest airport is Vágar Airport.

Music

The Tórshavn Jazz Festival 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

Listasavn Føroya on a national stamp, 1995.
  • Tinganes, 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 Cathedral, the second oldest church in the country.
  • Tórshavn harbour.
  • Fort Skansin, 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 Olsen.
  • The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands, 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

Notable natives and inhabitants

The writers William Heinesen and Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen, 1918 (both at the age of 18)

Gallery

  • Eystaravág

  • City bus on the Norðari Ringvegur

  • View over central Tórshavn

  • Eystaravág

  • One of the sports hall in Tórshavn

  • Niels Finsens Gøta

  • The British cannon at Skansin

  • Tórshavn cathedral

  • Bryggjubakki street at night

  • The municipal park

  • Alleys of Tinganes

  • No house in Tórshavn is as big as MS Norröna

Twin cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Faroe Islands

Tórshavn is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tórshavn Municipality website
  2. ↑ British 5.5"/50 (14 cm) BL Mark I
  3. ↑ hmr.fo
  4. ↑ amr.fo
  5. ↑ Fmr.fo
  6. ↑ "TORSHAVN Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 15, 2012. 
  7. ↑ "Sushine data for Tórshavn 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 15, 2012. 
  8. ↑ ISF.fo Faroese confederation of sports and Olympic committee
  9. ↑ TSF.fo
  10. ↑ Torshavn.fo, Vina- og samstarvsbýir
  11. ↑ Mariehamns stads vänorter.

Other sources

  • Havsteen-Mikkelsen, Sven (1995) Føroyinga søga (Bjarni Niclasen, týddi; Jørgen Haugan, skrivaði eftirmæli. Tórshavn: Føroya skúlabókagrunnur)

External links

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Tórshavnar kommuna

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