east-iceland · Iceland
Skriðuklaustur
Skriðuklaustur is a museum in East Iceland, Iceland. This museum offers insight into Icelandic culture, history, and heritage, making it a worthwhile stop for visitors to the area.
About Skriðuklaustur
Skriðuklaustur is a museum in East Iceland, Iceland. This museum offers insight into Icelandic culture, history, and heritage, making it a worthwhile stop for visitors to the area.
History & Background
Skriðuklaustur was founded as an Augustinian monastery around the year 1493 and remained active until the Reformation in the mid-16th century. Archaeological excavations have revealed that it served not only as a religious center but also as a hospital and refuge for travelers crossing eastern Iceland. In the 20th century, the site gained renewed importance when writer Gunnar Gunnarsson built his home there, helping preserve the historical significance of the location. Later excavations uncovered the remains of the monastery buildings, confirming Skriðuklaustur as one of the most important medieval heritage sites in East Iceland. Today, the site functions as a cultural heritage center and museum where visitors can explore both the medieval monastery ruins and the literary legacy connected to the valley of Fljótsdalur.
Did You Know?
- ✔Free entry for children in most Icelandic museums
- ✔Iceland has over 150 museums for 370,000 people
Tours Near Skriðuklaustur
Best-rated Iceland experiences — book with free cancellation
No specific tours found for this attraction.
Browse Iceland Tours →History & Background
Skriðuklaustur was founded as an Augustinian monastery around the year 1493 and remained active until the Reformation in the mid-16th century. Archaeological excavations have revealed that it served not only as a religious center but also as a hospital and refuge for travelers crossing eastern Iceland. In the 20th century, the site gained renewed importance when writer Gunnar Gunnarsson built his home there, helping preserve the historical significance of the location. Later excavations uncovered the remains of the monastery buildings, confirming Skriðuklaustur as one of the most important medieval heritage sites in East Iceland. Today, the site functions as a cultural heritage center and museum where visitors can explore both the medieval monastery ruins and the literary legacy connected to the valley of Fljótsdalur.
Story & Folklore
Skriðuklaustur preserves and shares a piece of Iceland's rich cultural and historical heritage. Museums in Iceland play a crucial role in keeping traditions alive — from the Viking Age to the fishing industry that sustained coastal communities for centuries. A visit here provides context for understanding the broader story of Iceland and its remarkable people.
Visitor Information
Best Time
Year-round; check seasonal opening hours
Duration
1-2 hours
Access
Located in towns with easy access. Most are wheelchair accessible.
Why Visit
This museum offers insight into Icelandic culture, history, and heritage, making it a worthwhile stop for visitors to the area.
Did You Know?
This museum offers insight into Icelandic culture, history, and heritage, making it a worthwhile stop for visitors to the area.
The Hidden Monastery of the East
Long before modern roads reached the quiet valley of Fljótsdalur, Skriðuklaustur stood as a place of care, learning, and faith in one of the most remote regions of Iceland. In the 16th century, monks lived and worked here beside the glacier river, offering shelter to travelers crossing the eastern highlands and tending to the sick in what is believed to have been Iceland’s earliest hospital. Archaeological discoveries show that people came from far away to seek help at this isolated monastery, making it a rare center of knowledge and healing in medieval Iceland. Centuries later, the same site became the home of writer Gunnar Gunnarsson, who returned from Europe to build his residence here, inspired by the landscape and history of the valley. Today, Skriðuklaustur connects these layers of Icelandic history — faith, literature, and daily life — in one remarkable place.
Practical Information
Best Time
Year-round; check seasonal opening hours
Duration
1-2 hours
Access
Located in towns with easy access. Most are wheelchair accessible.