FINLANDS SJÖFART J SUOMEN MERENKULKU 25
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G Gate to Saint Olav’s Church, Kirkjubøur.
G Pavement motif from Tomar in Portugal with a similar
cross, as those used in Faroe Islands.
Historical Saint Olav’s Church,
Kirkjubøur and the ruins
of the Magnus Cathedral
Kirkjubøur 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 Hestur and Koltur towards west and to Sandoy
towards south.
This is the site of the country’s most important historical site with
the ruins of the Magnus Cathedral from around 1300, the Saint Olav’s
Church (Olavskirkjan), from 12th century and the old farmhouse
Kirkjubøargarður from 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 Trøllhøvdi, just 100 m
of the northern tip of Sandoy 9 km away from Kirkjubø, it was given as
payment to the villagers as it was their duty to ferry people across to
Sandoy in medieval times. •
” The stone which is referred
to as the Kirkjubøur stone dates
back to the Viking Age.”
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