Skúvoy

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Skúvoy
View of the church from Skúvoy (2006)
View of the church from Skúvoy (2006)
Waters Atlantic Ocean
Archipelago Faroe Islands
Geographical location 61 ° 46 '15 "  N , 6 ° 49' 14"  W Coordinates: 61 ° 46 '15 "  N , 6 ° 49' 14"  W.
Location of Skúvoy
surface 10 km²
Highest elevation Knútur
392  m
Residents 34 (January 1, 2014)
3.4 inhabitants / km²
Map of Skuvoy
Map of Skuvoy
Sumba (Färöer) Vágur Porkeri Hov (Färöer) Fámjin Tvøroyri Hvalba Skúvoy Hvalba Húsavík (Färöer) Skálavík Sandur (Färöer) Skopun Tórshavn Sørvágur Vágar Vestmanna Kvívík Sunda kommuna Eiði Runavík Runavík Runavík Nes (Eysturoy) Sjóvar kommuna Eysturkommuna Klaksvík Húsar Fuglafjørður Kunoy Klaksvík Hvannasund Viðareiði Fugloy
Location of the municipality of Skúvoy
Skúvoy on a Faroese postage stamp from 2000

Skúvoy [ skʉuvɔi ] or Skúgvoy [ skɪgvɪ ] (literally Skuainsel - after the gull species Skua - Stercorarius skua ) is one of the 18 islands in the Faroe Islands and belongs to the region of the island Sandoy , but forms a municipality of its own. At the same time it has the status of an "outer island" ( see Útoyggjar ).

  • Number of peaks: 4
  • Commune : Skúvoyar Kommuna

In addition to the town of Skúvoy, the municipality of Skúvoy also includes the town of Dímun on Stóra Dímun , which has only eight inhabitants (as of 2016).

Infrastructure

On Skúvoy, which can be reached several times a day with the small ferry Sildberin from Sandur to Sandoy , there is a school, a shop and a post office, but no restaurant. The tourist office in Tórshavn or Sandur has the chance to find private accommodation for tourists. There is a flight connection by helicopter to and from Tórshavn three days a week. There are no cars on the island, just a few agricultural vehicles.

history

Skúvoy is already mentioned in the Faroese saga. It says that the Viking chief Sigmund Brestisson lived on Skúvoy and built the first church in the Faroe Islands here. With that he introduced Christianity to the Faroe Islands from 999 onwards. His tombstone, called Sigmundarsteinur, is still a memorial in the cemetery in Skúvoy, making it one of the archipelago's most important medieval testimonies. However, some scholars are of the opinion that the stone was originally a place of worship of the Celts and was on Skúvoy even before the Christianization of the Faroe Islands.

Attractions

Skúvoy has several attractions to offer:

  • The ruins of a small watermill covered with corrugated iron still stand by the "Botnsá" brook, which flows in a deep gorge between the village and the church slightly outside. It points to the earlier grain cultivation on Skúvoy. Today the only crops on Skúvoy are potatoes in a few small fields and rhubarb in a few house gardens.
  • The current church in Skúvoy was completed in 1937, the previous building was from 1852. It is said that the first church in the entire Faroe Islands was built here on Skúvoy around the year 1000.
  • A little further south, at the cemetery called "Ólansgarður", the main attraction of Skúvoy can be seen: the grave of the Viking chief Sigmund Brestisson, of which a memorial in front of the church commemorates. A clearly recognizable cross is carved into his tombstone, which is called "Sigmundarsteinur". It is the only free-standing cross stone in the Faroe Islands.
  • The valley "Fagradalur", often also called "Norður í Dal", is about 3 km northwest of the village and is suitable for hiking. It contains the ruins of a house in which, according to legend, a woman named "Rannvá" lived in the Middle Ages, who was cast out by the villagers. She was the only one who survived the plague because she was not in the village during the epidemic in the 14th century. The ruin called "Rannvátoftir" is heavily overgrown with grass, but the remains of walls are clearly visible.
  • Not far from there is the "Tróndarsteinur", a prominent boulder. Tróndur í Gøtu is said to have been killed at this point .
  • From "Tróndarsteinur" you can already see the cliff "Høvdin", which drops vertically 134 m to the sea. Numerous sea birds nest here, but you shouldn't get too close to the steep coast, otherwise you run the risk of falling.

photos

  • The "Fagradalur" valley in the northwest of the island. The arrow shows the location of the ruin "Rannvátoftir".

  • "Rannvátoftir" ruin from the Middle Ages.

  • The rock "Tróndarsteinur".

  • Grave of the Viking chief Sigmundur Brestisson.

  • The only shop on Skúvoy is in the basement of this house.

  • Post office with island mailbox in the evening sun.

Web links

Commons : Skúvoy  - collection of images, videos and audio files