The main role of The Cultural Heritage Agency of Iceland is to assure, so far as practicable, the preservation of cultural heritage in its natural environment, to facilitate and promote public access and knowledge of such heritage.

Cultural heritage includes evidence of the nation’s history such as archaeological heritage, cultural landscape, church relics, memorials, buildings and other structures, ships and boats, art relics and utensils.

he country is divided into eight cultural heritage regions:

• Reykjavík and surrounding area
• Suðurnes
• West Iceland
• Westfjords
• North West Iceland
• North East Iceland
• East Iceland
• South Iceland

The Cultural Heritage Agency  head office is in Reykjavik and in addition smaller offices in Stykkishólmur, Sauðárkrókur, Akureyri, Djúpivogur and Selfoss.