Hallgrímskirkja

It is almost impossible to escape the mesmerising charm of this towering structure, which can be seen from almost anywhere in Reykjavik, city. Iceland’s biggest church, Hallgrímskirkja, located at Skolavordustigur, is a Lutheran Parish Church that stands tall on a hillock, towering 74.5 metres. 

It is almost impossible to escape the mesmerising charm of this towering structure, which can be seen from almost anywhere in Reykjavik, city. Iceland’s biggest church, Hallgrímskirkja, located at Skolavordustigur, is a Lutheran Parish Church that stands tall on a hillock, towering 74.5 metres.

Also among the tallest structures in the country, it was named after poet and clergyman Hallgrimur Pettursson and is believed to be in line with Grundvig’s Church in Copenhagen, Denmark, which reflects an expressionist style of architecture. Designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, it is said to reflect the salient features of Icelandic nature, including its amazing basalt lava flows, trap rocks, glaciers and mountains. Initiated in 1937, it took 41 long years to complete this iconic structure, as the construction only began four years after it was commissioned and was completed in 1986. Hallgrímskirkja has a grand pipe organ designed by Germany’s Johannes Klais and is often used as an observation tower from where one can enjoy the amazing extending view of the surrounding mountains and Faxafloi Bay.

Additional renovation took place in 2009. Outside the church stands the imposing statue of Leif Eriksson, the first European to discover America, 500 years before Columbus, besides various colourful flowers, which can be seen during the summer months. The statue, by Alexander Stirling Calder, is a gift from the United States in 1930, which marked the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Parliament at Þingvellir.

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