Faroe Islands are group of islands that lie in the North Atlantic Ocean and in between Scotland, Norway and Iceland. Faroe Islands are also referred to as ‘Sheep Islands’ or simply Faroes.

Faroe Islands are without dispute beautiful and shining like green stones on a grey backcloth, buffeted by gales and tossed by sea kind of way. Despite of their reputation of remoteness, they are not far away if you are in Europe. Faroe Islands have served as an autonomous region of Denmark since 1948, but over the years they have taken the control of most matters except defence, foreign affairs and the legal system, which stays in responsibility of Denmark.

This archipelago is a place stroked by nature and blessed with celestial beauty. There is no wonder that the fascinating beauty of the Faroe Islands enamours every visitor.

People in Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands cover a small area of around thirteen hundred square kilometres on globe and the population is not more than fifty thousand people.

The first inhabitants were Irish monks, who lived as a very small group of settlers. Later, when the Vikings colonised Faroes, there was an extensive increase in the population, but the number never exceeded five thousand. Another rapid population growth was evoked by the rise of the deep sea fishery and general progress in the health service. At the beginning of the 18th century, the population increased tenfold in 200 years. In 1990s, Faroe Islands entered a deep economic crisis with heavy emigration, but this trend was reversed in further years to a net immigration.

History of Faroe Islands

The first settlement of the Faroe Islands began in this region around 9th century.
The foremost inhabitants were the emigrants who left Norway due to the terror of the founder and the first king of Norway, Harald Fairhair.

The Norwegians dominated the Faroe Islands till 1380 after which Norway entered into a union with Denmark. This union resulted in a double monarchy of Denmark-Norway in the region. However the Denmark- Norway unification broke up with the Treaty of Kiel in 1814. Consequently the Faroe Islands came under the governance of Denmark.

When Denmark was invaded by the Nazi Germany under the Weserubung operation, the Faroe Islands were captured by the British troops and saved from becoming a victim of disastrous German invasion. After the World War II British ceded the possession of the Faroe Islands back to Denmark. But in 1948 a home rule regime was implemented and granted a high degree of local autonomy to the Faroe Islands.

Culture of Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands shares a common cultural connection with the region of Norway, Iceland, and Denmark. The Nordic House is respected as a cultural hub that upholds the culture of Nordic and Faroese region. Contact between the areas of Norse settlement was strong and one of its results was to introduce a number of Celtic cultural elements into the otherwise surely Norse Faroese culture. The Faroe Islands were long isolated from the main cultural phases and movements that run across Europe, which caused that they have maintained a great part of their traditional culture.

The collection and documentation of the vast amount of oral material formed the foundation for the preservation of the language. The establishment of the written language in the middle of the 19th century created the basis for the renewal. While other languages disappear, the Faroese language is developing and is today the pride of Faroese culture.

What to do in Faroe Islands

There is no casinos, no night-clubs, no state of the art fitness centres in the Faroe Islands, but you can find there excursions and activities, which show you the history, traditions and way of life in this archipelago. A good thing to do in the Faroes is to take a bus that crosses
the islands, because you will get great views of the beautiful scenery. Faroe Islands are full
of fiords, small villages at the water’s edge and the countryside, which is shining green.

Much of the heritage of the Faroe Islands reflects a medieval past, villages clustered around old churches are scattered across the islands. You can still find old Faroese houses built of stone and driftwood, stone walls facing the prevailing winds, tarred wooden walls and turf roofs.