Fámjin () is a village located on the western side of
Suðuroy
Suðuroy (pronounced: �suːwʊrɔior �suːri ‘South Island’, ) is the southernmost of the Faroe Islands. The island covers 163.7 square kilometres (63.2 sq mi). In 2018 the population was 4,601. Suðuroy region ( sýsla) comprise ...
, the southernmost island in
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands ( ) (alt. the Faroes) are an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous territory of the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. Located between Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, the islands have a populat ...
. Fámjin is looking directly out to the
North Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...
.
Name
Tradition says that Fámjin used to be called Vesturvik. One day two men from the village were out on the sea fishing from their boat. There they saw a French sailship just lying there waiting for wind. The two men invited two ladies into their boat to see a large halibut. When the ladies were on board the men quickly rowed towards their village with them. From the sail-ship they heard the Frenchmen shout "Femmes ... Femmes". After that day Vesturvik was called Fámjin. These things are said to have happened in the 16th century.
Geography
The village of Fámjin faces the ocean, although partly protected by a stone reef, which becomes visible at low tide. The village is surrounded by some of the highest mountains on
Suðuroy
Suðuroy (pronounced: �suːwʊrɔior �suːri ‘South Island’, ) is the southernmost of the Faroe Islands. The island covers 163.7 square kilometres (63.2 sq mi). In 2018 the population was 4,601. Suðuroy region ( sýsla) comprise ...
. The highest mountain,
Gluggarnir is located north of Fámjin. The mountains
Borgarknappur and
Borgin are south-east of the village. There are several inland lakes and waterfalls. One of the waterfalls is named Fossurin Mikli. Only one road leads to the village, it goes through
Øravík.
North of the village lies the “
Kirkjuvatn” (Church Lake), one of the largest on the island. The old mountain path between Fámjin and
Vágur
Vágur, meaning ''bay'' (), is a town and municipality on the island of Suðuroy, part of the Faroe Islands.
It is situated on the east coast of the island on the Vágsfjørður fjord, and was founded in the fourteenth century. Expansion has mea ...
was originally the
main road between the two villages. There are cairns along the path. West of Fámjin by the end of the road is a gorge which is called
Prestgjógv (The Priest's Gorge).
Fámjin is 9 km west of
Øravík, which is on the west coast. Øravík is located on the east coast, around 3 km south of
Krambatangi ferry port. The distance from Fámjin to
Tvøroyri
Tvøroyri is a village on the north side of the Trongisvágsfjørður on the east coast of Suðuroy island in the Faroe Islands. Together with Froðba, Trongisvágur, Líðin and Øravík it forms Tvøroyri Municipality.
The village is considered ...
is 16 km. The distance from Fámjin to
Vágur
Vágur, meaning ''bay'' (), is a town and municipality on the island of Suðuroy, part of the Faroe Islands.
It is situated on the east coast of the island on the Vágsfjørður fjord, and was founded in the fourteenth century. Expansion has mea ...
is 29 km.
History
The church in Fámjin was built in 1875, it was ready to use in 1876.
In the church there is a
runestone
A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic alphabet, runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition of erecting runestones as a memorial to dead men began in the 4th centur ...
from the 16th century (''see
Fámjin stone'') (Faroese: Fámjinssteinurin). The stone bears both Latin and Runic letters. The stone is dated to the time after the Faroese reformation in 1538, and proves that runes were used up to as late as the 16th century. It is the youngest of the Faroese runestones.
In the church is the prototype of the Faroese flag
Merkið
The flag of the Faroe Islands (in Faroese language, Faroese: ''Merkið'' ) is an offset cross, representing Christianity. It is similar in design to other Nordic Cross, Nordic flags – a tradition set by the ''Flag of Denmark, Dannebrog'' of ...
. This flag was made by
Jens Oliver Lisberg from Fámjin and others while they were studying in
Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
in
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
in 1919. The first time "Merkið" was used in the Faroe Islands, was on June 22, 1919 in Fámjin, the occasion was a wedding.
''Merkið'' was not officially recognized in the beginning. However during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
prohibited the use of the
flag of Denmark
The flag of Denmark (, ) is red with a white Nordic cross, which means that the cross extends to the edges of the flag and that the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side.
A banner with a white-on-red cross is attested as havin ...
on Faroese ships as
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
was at that time
occupied by Germany. Therefore Merkið was run up on the ships instead. (April 25, 1940 is the official date of recognition)
Not until the verification of the home rule act in 1948 was Merkið recognized as the official flag of the
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands ( ) (alt. the Faroes) are an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous territory of the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. Located between Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, the islands have a populat ...
.
Culture
Fámjin is well situated near rich fishing grounds. In the
harbor
A harbor (American English), or harbour (Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be moored. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is ...
, which is well-protected by the natural environment, the fishing boats moor in the summer at a small
wharf
A wharf ( or wharfs), quay ( , also ), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more Berth (mo ...
. During the winter the boats are pulled in from the
quay
A wharf ( or wharfs), quay ( , also ), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more Berth (mo ...
and kept in boat houses nearby. As in other villages both fishing and sheep farming is a part of the daily routine. The sheep are gathered and led to slaughter in October.
During the summer months, however, the population increases significantly due to the many people from Fámjin who live in other villages on the Faroe Islands and in other countries, but return in the sheep herding and hay season, which takes place from the beginning of July to the end of August. This is the case in many small Faroese villages. The past years the number of tourists who visit the village has been increasing. The tourists come especially for one reason, they wish to see the original Faroese flag, Merkið, which is hanging inside the church. There are some houses for rent and a coffeeshop is next to the harbour. Tourists enjoy also to go for a walk up the hill behind the church to the lake
Kirkjuvatn. The name means The Lake of the Church.
Gallery
File:Færøernes.flag.2.jpg, The prototype of the Faroese flag Merkið, which is hanging inside the church
File:The Famjin Stone a Faroese Runestone.JPG, The Fámjin stone is a runestone located in the church of Fámjin
File:Suðuroy.Fámjin.2.jpg, Fámjin and the area around it as seen from north
File:Suðuroy.Fámjin.5.jpg, Tourists in the mountains south of Fámjin
File:Kirkjuvatn. Fámjin.01.jpg, Kirkjuvatn
See also
*
List of towns in the Faroe Islands
This is a list of villages (and towns) of the Faroe Islands as of 29 of April 2025. :fo:Býir í Føroyum
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Towns In The Faroe Islands
Towns
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands ( ) (alt. the Faro ...
References
External links
Faroeislands.dk: FamjinImages and description of all cities on the Faroe Islands.
Fámjin - a set on FlickrVisitsuduroy.fo, The Tourist Information Center of Suðuroy.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Famjin
Populated places in the Faroe Islands
Populated coastal places in the Faroe Islands
Municipalities of the Faroe Islands
Suðuroy