Hvalvik

Hvalvík stands on the Sundini, the sound between Streymoy and Eysturoy, and its church is the oldest wooden church still standing in the Faroes: built in 1829 in the traditional form, black tarred timber walls, white window frames, a turf roof and a small tower, with the whole thing surrounded by a low stone wall. The interior keeps its box pews and painted gallery. The village around it is small and quiet. Faroese churches of this pattern were built by the congregations themselves from imported timber, and Hvalvik is the one that survived intact when the others were replaced.

What you actually see

• The 1829 church - the oldest surviving wooden church in the islands.
• The turf roof - the grass roof on tarred timber walls.
• The box pews - the original interior fittings and painted gallery.
• The Sundini setting - the village on the sound between the two main islands.

When to go

May to September is when the church is most likely to be open. It closes during services. Outside summer access may need a keyholder.

Honest expectations

The church is often locked and opening is not guaranteed. The village has no facilities. The visit takes half an hour.

Nearby

Haldarsvik is north, and Torshavn is south.