Visiting a Legendary Ruin: Nólsoy, Faroe Islands

On my recent visit to Nólsoy, Faroe Islands, my favorite part of the day trip was the Prinsessutoftir, or “The Princess’s Ruin.” Just a 10-minute walk south of the village, the road runs right through these ruins, and they can be quite easy to miss if you’re not paying attention, but they are a must-see for any visitor to Nólsoy.

If you walk just past the black and yellow houses on the southern edge of the village, past the picnic table, you’ll see very clear foundations of these old ruins, from somewhere between the 14th and 17th century. The most interesting thing about Prinsessutoftir is not the ruins themselves, but the legend behind them.

From the Nólsoy tourist information site:

According to legend, a Scottish princess whose father didn’t approve of her boyfriend, fled with the boyfriend and settled on Nólsoy. Several years later the Scottish king heard where his daughter could be found, and came here to kill her. But when he saw the good life of the young family, and met his grandchild, he changed his mind and was reunited with his daughter.

You can see where a stream would have run through the main part of the house, and across the road are the foundations of what is said to be the servant’s quarters. They have a spectacular view of the water, looking out toward the island of Streymoy. If you’re heading to Nólsoy, this lovely site shouldn’t be missed!