Tracing The History Of The Rorbu Cabins
The history of the Rorbu cabins can be traced back to the year 1120, when the first ever specimens were built under the King Øistein. The winter season spelt the onset of the cod season around Lofoten. While people from far off lands had previously only heard of the abundance of fish in the waters around the Lofoten Islands, they now started planning journeys and trips to the region. Thus, the people started rowing and sailing across various channels to make the most of the winter cod season. Since fishing was important even then to the economy of the region, the King wanted to maximize the benefits, and so he decided to work on the need to provide places for the visiting fishermen to stay in.
The cabins were constructed to serve as living spaces for visiting fishermen. The cabins had a simplistic structure, with each cabin divided into two parts. One part served as the working room, where the equipment for fishing was stored along with the food while the other part served as a common dorm room, fitted with bunk beds. These cabins were constructed on stilts right by the edge of the water to allow for easy access.
Etymology Of The Word Rorbu
Tracing the etymology of the word ‘rorbu’ makes it easy for us to understand the connection between the houses and their names. The term ‘bu’ comes from the Norwegian word ‘bo’, and it basically means ‘a small house to live in’. The term ‘ro’ is a Norwegian word which means ‘to row’. Since people came from far off regions by rowing across the waters and needed the ‘small houses to live in’, the term ‘rorbu’ has come about and basically means a house where fishermen can find temporary dwelling arrangements when they ‘row out’ to the fishing grounds.
Use Of The Rorbu Cabins In A Modernized Way
By the period of the 1960s, a number of the rorbu cabins had gone out of use and a decision was taken to rent them out to tourists. As the trend gathered momentum, more and more people visiting Norway were fascinated by the concept of living in these cabins by the sea for a unique holiday experience and a chance to truly understand the culture and history of the region.