Vestmanna | |
Settlement Type: | Municipality and village |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Pushpin Map: | Faroe Islands |
Pushpin Label Position: | left |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Vestmanna village in the Faroe Islands |
Subdivision Type: | State |
Subdivision Type1: | Constituent country |
Subdivision Name1: | Faroe Islands |
Subdivision Type2: | Island |
Subdivision Name2: | Streymoy |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Population As Of: | January 2024 |
Population Footnotes: | [1] |
Population Total: | 1270 |
Timezone Dst: | WEST |
Utc Offset Dst: | +1 |
Coordinates: | 62.1564°N -7.1664°W |
Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
Postal Code: | FO 350 |
Blank Name: | Climate |
Blank Info: | Cfc |
Website: | https://vestmanna.fo/ |
Vestmanna is a town in the Faroe Islands on the west of the island of Streymoy.
It was formerly a ferry port, until an undersea tunnel, the Vágatunnilin, was built from Vágar to Kvívík and Stykkið further south on Streymoy. The cliffs west of Vestmanna, Vestmannabjørgini, are very popular for excursions by boat.
A 'Vestmann' was a "Westman", or Gael in Old Norse. The original name was Vestmannahavn, i.e. "Westmen's/Irishmen's harbour".
In December 1759, during the Seven Years' War, François Thurot's squadron sheltered from stormy conditions at Vestmanna. The lack of supplies available from the islanders motivated the subsequent raids by the squadron on the north Irish coast.
It is surrounded by the mountains of Hægstafjall (296abbr=onNaNabbr=on), Økslin (317abbr=onNaNabbr=on), Loysingafjall (639abbr=onNaNabbr=on), and Moskurfjall (624abbr=onNaNabbr=on).
Vestmanna is often called the tourist village of the Faroe Islands. The main tourist attraction is Vestmannabjørgini.In 2012, a camping site was established at Inni á Fjørð with a capacity of 120 caravans in addition to tents.