Torshavn Tourist Information
Torshavn Faeroe Islands
Tórshavn - the navel of the World - is situated in the centre of the Faroe Islands.
Historians believe that the Faroe Islands were explored and settled about year 800, when Norwegian settlers replaced an Irish settlement on the islands. The islands were at this time said to be a free state.
As long ago as the landnam périod Tórshavn became the central meeting place. Compared to landnam standard, the place was poor, the soil meagre, the summers misty. There was little driftwood to build houses, no cliffs with seabird colonies and the town was difficult to protect. Moreover the harbour conditions were inadequate in comparison tothe rest of the Faroe Islands, making the place unsuitable for settlement.
However, it was central enough and so it was here people met at the parliament, of Thing, for legal political judgement. It was here, c. 1000, that it was decided to introduce christianity to the Faroe Islands. The annual sitting of the Thing brought about an early marked which developed into a parliament trading place. When the isles came under Norwegian rule (1035) and later under Danish rule (1816), businesses were set up and permanent government officials were set up and permanent government officials made Tórshavn their home, building forts to protect the traders goods. Labourers and soliders were drawn form the poor and the have-nots and the isles.
Whilst the royal monopoly trade was still in force a man named Niels Ryberg obtained permission to begin a transit trade in Vágsbotnur. New skills were required amongst the inhabitants who taught themselves local crafts, to salt fish and to dry spilt cod. At the same time the land was divided into crofts for the residents of Tórshavn.
When monopoly trading was abolished in 1856 and free trade was introduced, development took off in a big way. The Faroese seafishing trade started in Tórshavn when so-called Trappubrøður bought the smack Fox. Owing to the poor harbour facilities the fishing developed faster in small settlements. Clearly it was imperative that Tórshavn should have a good harbour and at last, in 1927, it became a reality.
Tórshavn only became an official markedtown in 1909 and the community is still growing. Since 1974 the town has joined with Kaldbak, Hoyvík, Argir and Kollafjørður. In 1801 the population of Tórshavn was 554. By 1950 it had increased 10 times to 5607 and in 2001 it had reached 17.939.
Today, Tórshavn is a modern active town with trade, industry and administration; with schools and more and more further educational establisments; with sport facilities and a thriving cultural life. - A lively and pleasent town.
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