Velbastaður (Danish: Velbestad) is a village on the island of Streymoy in the Faroe Islands. It is a part of Tórshavn Municipality and is considered among the oldest settlements in the islands. There are two schools and one kindergarten in the village, with children coming from the neighboring village of Kirkjubø as well the capital at Tórshavn. [2]
Velbastaður is on Streymoy’s west coast in the south of the island, north of the ferry port of Gamlarætt and about five kilometres from Kirkjubøur. It has a beautiful view across the strait of Hestsfjørður towards the islands of Hestur and Koltur. The islands of Vágar and Mykines can be seen further to the west, and Sandoy further to the south.[3]
History
Faroe stamp featuring Velbastaður
Archaeological finds have unearthed artifacts possible dating as far back as the Viking age, but most locations used in those times have washed into the sea now. Velbastaður is located nearly in the center of the archipelago, and close to the old Thing in Tórshavn across the mountain. This would support the idea that there has been a shrine at Velbastaður. Tórshavn means the harbor of Thor. It was a natural harbor and would be a good place for travelers to land their ships and boats, and complete the travel overland, if conditions on the southwestern coast were disagreeable.[4]
The location of Kirkjubø, only 5 km to the south east on the same coast, supports the notion that there was a heathen shrine at Velbastað. The early Christian church would often locate their headquarters as close as possible to sacred heathen locations, making it easier to subdue and convert the most hardcore supporters of the old faiths.
The village was deserted for some time after the Black Death in 1349. The population of the village has increased in recent years from 134 in 1990, to 220 in 2015,[5] mainly due to its close proximity to the capital Tórshavn, while still preserving the feeling of living in the countryside. A new residential and industrial area is being built on the rocks being excavated from the Sandoy tunnel.[6]
Name origin
The place name Velbastaður is unique in the Faroes as it is the only settlement with the ending staður, meaning place or location. The name is by many considered the same as the Old NorseVébólstaðr, meaning farm with a Vé or shrine. Vé (from the Old Norse) was a type of sacred enclosure or a sanctuary. Locations with similar prefixes of Ve and histories of sacred locations, can be found several places in Norway, such as Vebbestad in Kvæstad, Troms or Veibust, in Sula, Møre og Romsdal.[7][4]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Velbastaður.
Village description in faoeislands.dk
February 25, 2023
velbastaður, danish, velbestad, village, island, streymoy, faroe, islands, part, tórshavn, municipality, considered, among, oldest, settlements, islands, there, schools, kindergarten, village, with, children, coming, from, neighboring, village, kirkjubø, well,. Velbastadur Danish Velbestad is a village on the island of Streymoy in the Faroe Islands It is a part of Torshavn Municipality and is considered among the oldest settlements in the islands There are two schools and one kindergarten in the village with children coming from the neighboring village of Kirkjubo as well the capital at Torshavn 2 VelbastadurVillageVelbastadurLocation in the Faroe IslandsCoordinates 61 59 5 N 6 51 2 W 61 98472 N 6 85056 W 61 98472 6 85056 Coordinates 61 59 5 N 6 51 2 W 61 98472 N 6 85056 W 61 98472 6 85056State Kingdom of DenmarkConstituent country Faroe IslandsIslandStreymoyMunicipalityTorshavn MunicipalityPopulation August 2022 1 Total252Time zoneGMT Summer DST UTC 1 EST Postal codeFO 176ClimateCfc Contents 1 Geography 2 History 2 1 Name origin 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 Related reading 7 External linksGeography EditVelbastadur is on Streymoy s west coast in the south of the island north of the ferry port of Gamlaraett and about five kilometres from Kirkjubour It has a beautiful view across the strait of Hestsfjordur towards the islands of Hestur and Koltur The islands of Vagar and Mykines can be seen further to the west and Sandoy further to the south 3 History Edit Faroe stamp featuring Velbastadur Archaeological finds have unearthed artifacts possible dating as far back as the Viking age but most locations used in those times have washed into the sea now Velbastadur is located nearly in the center of the archipelago and close to the old Thing in Torshavn across the mountain This would support the idea that there has been a shrine at Velbastadur Torshavn means the harbor of Thor It was a natural harbor and would be a good place for travelers to land their ships and boats and complete the travel overland if conditions on the southwestern coast were disagreeable 4 The location of Kirkjubo only 5 km to the south east on the same coast supports the notion that there was a heathen shrine at Velbastad The early Christian church would often locate their headquarters as close as possible to sacred heathen locations making it easier to subdue and convert the most hardcore supporters of the old faiths The village was deserted for some time after the Black Death in 1349 The population of the village has increased in recent years from 134 in 1990 to 220 in 2015 5 mainly due to its close proximity to the capital Torshavn while still preserving the feeling of living in the countryside A new residential and industrial area is being built on the rocks being excavated from the Sandoy tunnel 6 Name origin Edit The place name Velbastadur is unique in the Faroes as it is the only settlement with the ending stadur meaning place or location The name is by many considered the same as the Old Norse Vebolstadr meaning farm with a Ve or shrine Ve from the Old Norse was a type of sacred enclosure or a sanctuary Locations with similar prefixes of Ve and histories of sacred locations can be found several places in Norway such as Vebbestad in Kvaestad Troms or Veibust in Sula More og Romsdal 7 4 Gallery Edit See also Edit Faroe Islands portalList of towns in the Faroe Islands StreymoyReferences Edit Population municipalities and villages Statistics Faroe Islands Velbastadur in Faroese Municipality of Torshavn Retrieved 15 November 2015 Jon Fossa All villages on the Faroe Islands Faroeislands dk Retrieved 2006 07 15 a b Ljunggren Karl Gustav 1955 01 01 Kirkjubour Velbastadur og Torshavn Frodskaparrit 1955 Folkatal Hagstova Foroya www hagstova fo Retrieved 2015 10 05 New district planned near Velbastadur Kringvarp Foroya 17 December 2021 stadur wiktionary org Retrieved November 1 2017 Related reading EditSwaney Deanna June 1999 1991 Iceland Greenland amp the Faroe Islands 3rd ed Lonely Planet Publications ISBN 0 86442 453 1 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Velbastadur Village description in faoeislands dk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Velbastadur amp oldid 1114299221, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
