Laugarnes

Background

History & Background

Laugarnes holds a prominent place in Icelandic history as a documented Viking-age settlement, dating back to the period when Norse Vikings first began settling the island around 870 AD. This site represents one of the earliest established farmsteads in the wider Reykjavik area, providing archaeologists and historians with invaluable insights into the daily lives, agricultural practices, and community structures of Iceland's pioneering inhabitants. The fertile lands and access to the coast made Laugarnes an ideal location for these early settlers to establish their new homes. The historical significance of Laugarnes is underscored by its protected status, with the ancient monuments formally protected by law in 1931 and again in 1987. This designation safeguards the integrity of the old farmstead (bæjarstæði Laugarness við Sund), situated on a rise overlooking the water, and an ancient cemetery located just south of the farmstead. These sites are not merely historical markers but are tangible links to the sagas and the foundational narrative of the Icelandic nation. Walking through Laugarnes today, one can almost hear the echoes of the past, imagining the longhouses, the livestock, and the families who built lives here. It's a powerful reminder of the resilience and adventurous spirit of the Norse people, whose legacy continues to shape Icelandic culture and identity. The site contributes significantly to our understanding of the settlement era and the development of early Icelandic society.

Laugarnes preserves a quieter layer of Reykjavík history on the coast east of the centre. The old farm and church landscape, cemetery and shoreline give context to settlement and community life before the surrounding city developed. Visitors should expect a historic landscape rather than reconstructed Viking buildings.