About

Núpsstaður is a remote farmstead and turf church located on the South Coast of Iceland, roughly halfway between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Skaftafell. The site is dramatically positioned beneath Lómagnúpur, a massive basalt cliff that rises 767 metres above the surrounding plains. The current turf church was originally built in 1656 and reconstructed in the 1800s using traditional turf-building techniques. Its walls are made of stacked turf blocks supported by a wooden frame, with a grass-covered roof that blends into the landscape. The church interior is simple, with whitewashed walls, wooden pews, and a small altar. Núpsstaður is one of the last remaining turf churches in Iceland. Most were replaced by timber or concrete structures in the 20th century, but a handful were preserved as cultural monuments. The church is no longer used for regular services but is maintained by the National Museum of Iceland and open to visitors. The site is accessed via Route 1 with a short gravel track leading to the farm. The combination of the tiny church, dramatic cliff backdrop, and sweeping black sand plains makes it one of Iceland's most photographed locations.

📖 Story

Núpsstaður has been a farm and church site since the Viking Age. The current turf church was built in 1656 and later rebuilt in its present form in the 19th century. It is one of the last remaining turf churches in Iceland, a tradition that dates back centuries when timber was scarce and turf was the most practical building material. The church sits alone beneath towering cliffs, isolated and timeless — a scene so striking it has become one of Iceland's most iconic images.

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