Norðragøta


Norðragøta, also just referred to as Gøta, is a village on Eysturoy, Faroe Islands.

Overview

The municipality of Gøta was a municipality until 1 January 2009 when it merged with Leirvík into Eysturkommuna. Gøta consists also of the villages Gøtueiði, Gøtugjógv and Syðrugøta. The village lies on Eysturoy's east coast at the bottom of the inlet Gøtuvík. There is a museum called Gøtu Fornminnisavn with the famous house Blásastova. The wooden church in the centre of the village is from 1833.
Gøta is a place of great importance in the history of the Faroe Islands. One of the key figures in the Icelandic saga, Færeyinga saga, called Tróndur Gøtuskegg lived here. Trondur was a heathen Viking-chief who ruled all of the islands for a period of time. In the saga Tróndur is represented as the "bad guy" while the "good guy" is Sigmundur Brestisson. Sigmundur Christianised the Faroe Islands for the King of Norway.

Sports

The most popular pastime in Norðragøta is football. The local football team is Víkingur Gøta, formerly known as Gøtu Ítróttarfelag. They play their home games at the Serpugerði Stadium.

Music

Gøta is home to G! Festival, one of the largest music festivals in the Faroe Islands.

Faroese stamps showing Norðragøta

Old houses in Norðragøta

Issued on 5 October 1992, the artist was Jákup Pauli Gregoriussen.
The new church of Gøta, issued: 23 September 2002. These were also the Christmas stamps for that year.
Text on stamps.fo: