An exhibition dedicated to Iceland’s national dog The Icelandic Sheepdog Heritage Centre is a lively and educational exhibition that highlights the history, role and unique character of this remarkable breed. Its aim is to preserve the cultural heritage connected to the Icelandic sheepdog and make it accessible to visitors of all ages. The story is told in a warm, visual …
Þrístapar Memory Site
Historic execution site Þrístapar consists of three small hills on the western side of Vatnsdalshólar, just north of Route 1. The site is known for the last public execution in Iceland in 1830, connected to the Illugastaðir murder case. The hills stand as a stark reminder of a dramatic event that has shaped the legal and cultural history of North …
Vatnsdalur and Þingeyri
History, nature and cultural heritage Vatnsdalur and Þingeyri offer a unique connection to nature, history and culture – ideal for anyone interested in Icelandic heritage. Vatnsdalur – natural gem and setting of an Icelandic saga Vatnsdalur is a 25 km long valley in Húnaþing vestra, known for its diverse landscape and historical significance. According to Landnámabók, Ingimundur the Old Þorsteinsson …
The Textile Museum
Icelandic wool, embroidery and national costumes The Textile Museum in Blönduós preserves the forgotten crafts of past and present. The museum offers insight into the textile work carried out by women and men in Icelandic homes, which played a major role in daily life. This handcraft tradition was an export industry for centuries – the “heavy industry of its time” …
The Leader Sheep Centre
Heritage and Knowledge The Leader Sheep Centre opened in 2014 in the old community house at Svalbarð in Þistilfjörður. The exhibition offers rich information about Icelandic leader sheep and their role in Icelandic agriculture. Visitors learn how this unique breed has been part of the nation’s culture and farming traditions for centuries. Characteristics of Icelandic Leader Sheep Icelandic sheep are …
The Herring Era Museum
The largest maritime and industrial museum in Iceland The Herring Era Museum in Siglufjörður is Iceland’s largest maritime and industrial museum. Across three distinct museum buildings, visitors discover the story of herring fishing and processing – the “silver of the sea” that shaped Iceland’s destiny in the twentieth century. The herring industry was so significant that people spoke of it …
Icelandic Emigration Centre
The Icelandic Emigration Centre in the village Hofsós was founded in 1996 to honour Icelanders who immigrated to North America between 1850 and 1914. The goal of the center is to tell the story of the people who left and strengthen the ties between their descendants and their relatives in Iceland. The Emigration Centre offers four exhibitions in three buildings as …
Hólar in Hjaltadalur
Hólar in Hjaltadalur is a historic place, surrounded by majestic mountains. The site is one of the main centers of culture and education in Iceland for nearly a thousand years. There was a bishop’s seat from 1106 to 1798. There you can find both the University of Hólar and the Hólar Cathedral, which is the oldest stone church in Iceland …
Laufás Turf Farm
The old turf farm Laufás, on the east coast of Eyjafjörður, is part of the National Museum’s collection of buildings but managed by the Akureyri Museum. There, visitors can learn about traditional Icelandic architecture and country life. The oldest part of the farm dates back to the 16th century, but the current interior has been maintained since the early 1800s. …
Akureyri Museum
The Akureyri Museum is located in a historic building in the oldest part of Akureyri. Outside is an old country church in a beautiful ornamental garden. Various exhibitions are held at the museum to shed light on the town’s history, including its musical heritage. The former homes of the children’s book author and priest Jón Sveinsson (Nonni) and the national …
Sauðanes House
The old stone house at Sauðanes (Sauðaneshús) is an old church estate 7 km north of the village Þórshöfn. The vicarage, which was built in 1879 from grey basalt which originated far from the area, is the region’s oldest stone house. Today it houses an exhibition showcasing how life was in Langanes during the time when Sauðaneshús was inhabited and …
Snartarstaðir Folk Museum
Snartarstaðir, close to the village Kópasker, is the folk museum of Norður – Þingeyjarsýsla county and presents a unique collection of local objects and handicrafts from the 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibition is characterized by two different collections; one is the large amount of all sorts of handicrafts, embroidery, woven items, knitted clothing, and other handicrafts, and the other …
Grenjaðarstaður Turf Farm
It’s a unique experience for people of all ages to walk around one of the largest turf farms in the country, Grenjaðarstaður in Aðaldalur. Here, visitors can observe old objects and imagine what life on a traditional Icelandic farm life was like. Grenjaðarstaður is an ancient manor, church site and pastorage. It even served as a post office. The oldest …
Húsavík Museum
The Þingeyjarsýsla County Culture Center encompasses four different but equally fascinating museums. Husavik Museum (Safnahúsið) has two permanent exhibitions. In the Maritime Museum old boats and tools are on display and visitors can watch a documentary to gain insight into the lives and work of fishermen in centuries past. The second one, “Man and Nature – 100 years in Þingeyjarsýslur”, …
Kakalaskáli in Skagafjörður
Experience the Age of the Sturlungs through the history and art exhibition in Kakalaskáli in Skagafjörður. The so-called Age of the Sturlungs was a period of repeated armed struggles between the main ruling clans in Iceland who fought for power. Travel back to the civil war in 13th century Iceland and picture the ruling clans clashing at Haugsnes in North Iceland …
Museum of Prophecies
What does the future behold? Have your fortune told at the Museum of Prophecies in Skagaströnd in Northwest Iceland and learn about Þórdís the fortune-teller, the place’s first named inhabitant. Þórdís was not only known for her supernatural abilities, but she was also the foster mother of Þorvaldur the far traveller, Iceland’s first missionary, and her name appears in a …
Glaumbær Museum
According to sources, a farm has existed on the land of Glaumbær since the Age of Settlement around 900 AD. One of its most famous residents was Snorri Þorfinnsson, the first European to be born in North America, around 1000. The present buildings vary in age; the most recent addition was built 1876-79 and the oldest in the mid-18th century. …
1238: The Battle of Iceland
Visit 1238 – The Battle of Iceland Virtual and Augmented Reality Museum, and participate in the largest battle in Iceland’s history. Step into history and participate in the Battle of Örlygsstaðir immersive exhibition that takes you through some dramatic and violent Icelandic Sagas in a new and exciting way! The VR museum is located in Sauðárkrókur in North Iceland, close …