ROYKSTOVAN

This private residence belongs to the Patursson family. It was once the bishop's residence. The dining room is a unique testimony to the lifestyle of the Vikings and their Christian descendants. 900 years ago, this room, from which smoke escaped through the roof, was called roykstova. This 50-meter long room is said to be the oldest in the world still in use. A legend tells that a Norwegian ship having lost its cargo, and whose wood was numbered, would have failed here! The wood seems to have petrified because of the soot, the smoke not being entirely evacuated. The ancient roykstova is impressively beautiful, it is furnished and decorated in the style of the 19th century.

Nowadays, this very old house is entirely made of wood, while a few centuries ago it was made of stone on two floors. The floors were made of driftwood found on the shores of Kirkjubøur. Nevertheless, the foundations are made of particularly thick stone walls: up to 2 m in some places! In the past, watchtowers stood on both sides. In parallel, there was an identical building to which some stones testify. A paved courtyard lay between the two. A second building dating from the 18th century is still inhabited. On the outside, the doorposts and arches were cut at the beginning of the 20th century, when it was restored. The whole complex is an active farm with 330 ewes and Highland cattle. Stay and lunch for groups.