Hallgrimskirkja reminds me of a space rocket. Discover the design inspiration, top view, history, facts and more below!
Sure. At height (244 feet), it is the largest church in Iceland and among the tallest structures in the country so it is sure to make the most of Reykjavik. Only 1000ISK (£5.50) for entry you can see colorful houses, the sea and the island of Videy from the top of the church tower (which can be reached by lift, thankfully).
We walked right into Hallgrimskirkja. But this is probably different when there is a service of course.
With any monumental view from above, recommended to go during sunset so you can photograph day and night. I went in the evening, but it was June so it’s daylight!
Therefore the best time varies a lot depending on the season to visit Hallgrímskirkja. Check the forecast sunset time in Reykjavik before you go.
Who is the statue outside Hallgrímskirkja?
One of the most famous statues in Reykjavik is the imposing Leifur Eiríksson in front of Hallgrímskirkja, at the end of Skólavörðustígur street. Eiríksson was best known as a hero of the Viking age.
He was the first European to arrive in America in the year 1000, before Christopher Columbus by about half a millennium. It was actually a gift from the United States.
Hallgrimskirkja was first commissioned in 1937. But the construction started only in 1945. it took 41 years before it was completed in 1986. The tower was finished long before this, but the steeple and the wings were concluded in 1974 while the construction of the nave was the last. Finally, Hallgrimskirkja opened just in time for Reykjavík’s 200th anniversary.
The architect of Hallgrimskirkja, Guðjón Samúelsson, intended to reflect the landscape of Iceland; trap rocks, mountains and glaciers that I think you will agree to succeed. Guðjón Samúelsson died in 1950 so he never saw the finished construction of Hallgrimskirkja.
You may be fooled into thinking Hallgrimskirkja is made of natural material that looks very similar to the Icelandic landscape. But Hallgrimskirkja is actually built of concrete, the pristine white appearance is actually a rough coating cast of white granite
Hallgrimskirkja is a Lutheran church. The church is named after the clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson of the 17th century and made significant contributions to the Lutheran hymnal.