east-iceland · Iceland
The French Hospital
About The French Hospital
The French Hospital (Franski spítalinn) in Fáskrúðsfjörður is a historic building constructed in 1904 to provide medical care for French fishermen who worked in Icelandic waters during the height of the French fishing era. At the time, thousands of sailors from France traveled seasonally to the coasts of Iceland, and Fáskrúðsfjörður became one of their main bases in the country. The hospital served as an essential support facility for fishermen far from home, offering treatment and assistance in a remote and demanding maritime environment. Today, the restored building functions as a museum and cultural heritage site that tells the story of the French presence in East Iceland and the long-standing relationship between Iceland and France. Visitors can explore exhibitions about the lives of the fishermen, the role of the hospital, and the international connections that shaped the development of Fáskrúðsfjörður in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Tours Near The French Hospital
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Why Visit
Visit the The French Hospital (Franski spítalinn) in Fáskrúðsfjörður to explore one of Iceland’s most unique international heritage sites and learn how French fishermen shaped the history and cultural identity of East Iceland in the early 20th century.
Did You Know?
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of French fishermen sailed to the waters around East Iceland each fishing season, and Fáskrúðsfjörður became known as the “French town of Iceland,” even displaying bilingual street signs in both Icelandic and French that can still be seen today.