Utflykt till ön Viðey på Island - 1000 års historia

The island of Viðey in Iceland is located just outside Reykjavik and is easily reached by a short boat journey. In the summer, many people come here to birdwatch, picnic or just enjoy the scenery. Coming here on a rough March day, with a boat ride across a grey sea and a luxurious lunch in Iceland's oldest stone house, was also an experience!

Table of contents

The island of Viðey in Iceland

Viðey is an island in Kollafjörður fjord, which is part of Faxaflói Bay, just north of Reykjavik. The island is 1.7 square kilometres and reaches a maximum of 32 metres above sea level. Nobody lives here today, but the island has a long and interesting history. Perhaps people have lived here longer than anywhere else in Iceland?

Excursion to Viðey

We took an excursion to the island of Viðey with the whale watching company Elding. The boat ride itself took maybe 15 minutes, and while we looked out over a grey sea and a shrinking Reykjavik, a guide told us about the island we were going to. Then it was time to step ashore!

READ MORE: The Icelandic language
READ MORE: 14 things to see and do in Reykjavik

Viðeyjarstofa - Iceland's oldest stone house

Viðeyjarstofa (Viðey House) is Iceland's oldest stone house. The house was built in 1752-1755 as the official residence of the bailiff Skúli Magnússon, who was one of the most powerful men in the country at the time. Among other things, Skúli founded the first industrial enterprise in Iceland, a wool factory, which led to the urban development of Reykjavik. Today, the charming old stone house is used for meetings, parties and weddings.

There are a lot of old artefacts in the house, as well as the Gallery restaurant, which has been serving food here since 2010. We were offered a really good meal here with cod and parsnip. The chocolate cake for dessert was awesome!

Kyrkan Viðeyjarkirkja

Right next to or behind Viðeyjarstofa is Viðeyjarkirkja, one of the oldest churches in Iceland. The church was designed by Danish architect Georg David Anthon and was inaugurated in 1774.

Imagine Peace Tower

Internationally, the small island of Viðey in Iceland is best known for the 'Imagine Peace Tower', or Friðarsúlan (Peace Column) as it is called in Icelandic. This memorial is dedicated to John Lennon, and was designed by his widow Yoko Ono.

The name comes from the song "Imagine" and the base reads "Imagine peace" in 24 different languages. The "tower" is pretty insignificant when it's off, but if you want to see it shining, check out these pictures on Google.

READ MORE: Þingvellir National Park in Iceland
READ MORE: Reykjavik sights - self-guided city tour

More to see at Viðey ?

The island of Viðey in Iceland is perhaps the most popular destination for tranquillity and nature. You can hike around the island, or take a bike on the ferry and get around on the cycle paths. Maybe pass the old school?

There is also some art on the island, such as the Milestones artwork by American artist Richard Serra. During the summer, Viðeyjarnaust cabin is also open, with a kitchen, toilet and barbecue facilities.

Did people live on Viðey even before the Vikings?

Norwegian Vikings settled in Iceland from 870 onwards, as they wanted to get away from the Norwegian King Harald Fairhair. But was Iceland completely deserted when they arrived? No one can answer this with certainty, but there is evidence to suggest that Irish monks (paper) found their way here even before the Vikings.

One of the reasons why this is suspected is that some islands, such as Viðey, were early on called 'Papey' (monk's island). So perhaps Irish monks once lived on this now uninhabited island? Exciting to imagine!

READ MORE: Around Iceland by car - 9 places you must see
READ MORE: Facts about Iceland - 30 things you (maybe) didn't know

The 1000-year history of Viðey

Although Viðey in Iceland is a relatively small island, and although it seems relatively insignificant today, many important events have taken place here. Here's a thousand years of history in a few quick paragraphs:

Monasticism starts in 1225 when a monastery is founded by Þorvaldur Gissurarson, with the help of Snorri Sturluson. The monastery becomes the second richest in Iceland. In 1539 the monastery is destroyed by Danish soldiers during the Reformation. A home for the poor is then built.
Landsfogden Skúli Magnússon moves to the island and the house
Viðeyjarstofa 1755. Skúli dies in 1794 and is buried at the church.
Governor Ólafur Stephensen moves to the island in 1794. In 1812, Ólafur's son, Magnús Stephensen, who is President of the Supreme Court, takes over. When Magnús dies in 1833, the island continues to belong to the family.
Farming era begins in 1901 when Eggert Briem and his wife Katrín Pétursdóttur set up a large-scale farm on the island. The couple's 48 cows supply 200,000 litres of milk to the people of Reykjavik every year.
The fishing era begins in 1907 when Pétur J. Thorsteinsson and Thor Jensen start a fishing business on the island. Around 1930, the island has 138 inhabitants. When the business starts to fail, people move away from the island again.
The unoccupied time starts around or even before 1950. In 1968 Viðeyjarstofa and Viðeyjarkirkja become part of the National Museum of Iceland.

On the way back to Reykjavik, photo Veera Bianca

Reykjaviks hamn — Back in Reykjavik harbour!

Facts about Viðey

Residents? 0 people
Travelling here? A ferry runs between Reykjavik (Skarfagardar) and the island of Viðey all year round. In summer (15 May - 30 September) the ferry runs once an hour every day, between 10:15 and 17:15. In winter (1 October - 14 May), the ferry operates only on weekends, once an hour between 13:15 and 15:15. (2019) You can travel to Iceland by for example Icelandair.
Prices? The ferry costs 1550 Icelandic krona (approx. 130 SEK) for adults, 1400 (approx. 120 SEK) for students and pensioners and 775 (approx. 65 SEK) for children 7-17 years old (2019). Children 0-7 years old travel for free. You also travel for free if you have a "city card”.

This trip was a press trip, organised by the Food and Fun Reykjavik festival and Icelandair. All texts, photos (unless otherwise stated) and opinions are, as usual, our own.

10 Comments

Add yours →

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

What lovely light and colours there were on this grey March day.
Cosy trip and the food looks absolutely wonderful!

07 March 2019 - 7:29

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Like to get out on the sea! Even when it's a bit rough 🙂
  
  07 March 2019 - 15:44
  
Ditte says:

It's great to visit a place where not many people go. I didn't even know the island existed. Thanks for the visit, info and nice Bildt. Just wondered if you got to see any sea life.

07 March 2019 - 13:30

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Surely it is a bit exciting to discover places where not everyone goes? 🙂 Saw various seabirds, but nothing more than that 😉.
  
  07 March 2019 - 15:45
  
Mr Steve says:

How wonderful to visit a place with 0 inhabitants, yet with so much to offer. A real gem with a particularly colourful history...
The farmhouse era, in contrast to today when dairy farmers are a dying breed.

07 March 2019 - 19:17

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We like history, so we thought this was interesting 🙂 ).
  
  08 March 2019 - 9:18
  
Lena - good for the soul says:

Truly an exciting story on that island. Beautiful pictures in spite of somewhat icy weather.

Hug Lena

07 March 2019 - 20:25

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The weather was not great, but still a nice trip! 🙂
  
  08 March 2019 - 9:19
  
BP says:

Irish monks are from Ireland I guess. Oh yes, they are Catholic monks. Better place to settle with celibacy and everything is hardly possible;-)

I can imagine that a short visit to the island in the sunshine is a highlight, but otherwise, no thanks. Understand very well that the island is uninhabited since 1950...

07 March 2019 - 21:44

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes exactly, they were from Ireland. And it couldn't get much more lonely (until the Vikings came along ;)).
  
  08 March 2019 - 9:19

Excursion to the island of Viðey in Iceland - 1000 years of history

The island of Viðey in Iceland

Excursion to Viðey

Viðeyjarstofa - Iceland's oldest stone house

Kyrkan Viðeyjarkirkja

Imagine Peace Tower

More to see at Viðey ?

Did people live on Viðey even before the Vikings?

The 1000-year history of Viðey

Facts about Viðey

You might also like:

Subscribe to our newsletter

10 Comments

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

Mr Steve says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

ABOUT FREEDOMtravel

CONTACT US

Social media and newsletters

SEARCH AND FIND ON FREEDOMTRAVEL

Categories

Archive