Klaksvik

Klaksvík is the second town in the islands and the main fishing port, built on an isthmus between two bays with mountains rising steeply on both sides. Christianskirkjan, finished in 1963, is the building to see: its roof follows the lines of an upturned boat, a Faroese fishing boat hangs from the ceiling, and the font is a Bronze Age stone bowl brought from a Danish church. The town is the base for the northern islands.

History

People have lived at Klaksvík since Viking times, but the town is a creation of the 20th century: four farms here grew into the villages of Vágur, Myrkjanoyri, Gerðar and Uppsalir, which merged in 1938, spurred by the opening of a central store for all the northern islands. It became the main harbour and fishing town of the north and the islands' second town; the family brewery Föroya Bjór was founded here in 1888, and in April 2006 the Norðoyatunnilin, a tunnel under the sea to Leirvík, gave it a road link to the rest of the islands (Wikipedia, Klaksvík).

Highlights

• Christianskirkjan - a 1963 church roofed on the lines of an upturned boat.
• The hanging boat - a Faroese rowing boat suspended in the nave.
• The Bronze Age font - a prehistoric stone bowl used as the baptismal font.
• The harbour - the main fishing port of the islands.

When to go

May to September is the season for excursions to the northern islands. The town works year round. The Ólavsøka holiday in July empties it towards Tórshavn.

Good to know

The town is a working port and industrial in parts. The church keeps limited opening hours outside services. Ferries and helicopters to the outer islands run to sparse schedules.

Nearby

Klakkur is above the town, and Vidareidi is north.

Key facts