Valais, Switzerland
Simplon Hospice
Commissioned by Napolean Bonaparte, this hospice hosts retreats and camps and is a popular starting point for breathtaking hikes.
Saksun, Faroe Islands
Saksun is a village of just 15 inhabitants near the northwest coast of the remote Faroese island of Streymoy. The town consists of a church, museum, and a sheep farm called Dúvugarður with a small house on the water (pictured).
The 18 Faroe Islands are a territory of Denmark with a combined 600 miles of roads, a total population of 49,000 inhabitants and 70,000 sheep. Saksun lies in the bottom of what used to be an inlet of the sea, surrounded by high mountains. The inlet formed a deep natural harbor, until a storm blocked it with sand in the 1600s. The old harbor became a seawater lagoon, only accessible by small boats at high tide.
The church in the village did not always reside in Saksun. Originally, it was located in Tjørnuvík, a long walk over the high mountains to the north. To move the church, in 1858, town residents disassembled the church, carried it over the mountains and reassembled it in Saksun. It was renamed Saksunar Kirkja (Church of Saksun).
The turf roofs of Saksun’s buildings are a traditional style that was used to provide protection from the rain as well as thermal insulation. They have become a symbol for the region and are utilized on newer homes throughout the islands as well.
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