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Reykholt - A church and parsonage - West Iceland

Region: West

About: (Description)
Reykholt, a church, parsonage, a medieval institution and a hotel in one of the most famous places in Iceland’s history, the home of Snorri Sturluson (1179–1241), who was murdered there. Snorri was a writer, chieftain and law speaker, the best-known Icelandic medieval writer.

Among many famous clergymen to serve Reykholt was Finnur Jónsson (1704–89, later a bishop of Skálholt. Attached to the church is Snorrastofa, a medieval research centre, established to do research and provide information on the works of Snorri, medieval literature and history in
general, also the area of Reykholt and BorgarfjoÅNrur. A statue of Snorri by Gustav Vigeland presented by Norway was unveiled 1947.

Snorralaug (“Snorri’s pool”), an outdoor bathing pool with piped warm water and a tunnel leading to it from under the old farmhouse are considered to be among the oldest extant constructions in the country. Graves of the Sturlungas, the powerful family to which Snorri belonged, are in the churchyard. Much geothermal heat is in the area. The main hot spring, Skrifla, supplies the Snorralaug pool and the local buildings with hot water.

The building of the old district school with its beautiful architecture will in the future be a part of the National Library of Iceland. Excavations have
been made over the past years by the National museum of Iceland on the old farmhouse site, the passage between the houses and the pool, and on the old churchyard. The old timber-church in Reykholt was built 1886-87 and bears a certain resemblance to Reykjavík Cathredal. In the keeping of
the National Museum since 2001.

source Iceland Road Atlas

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