Capital Region · Iceland
Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavík's iconic Lutheran church — a 74.5-meter tower visible from across the city and throughout the surrounding area, with a facade inspired by the basalt lava columns found across Iceland.
About Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja is Reykjavík's iconic Lutheran church — a 74.5-meter tower visible from across the city and throughout the surrounding area, with a facade inspired by the basalt lava columns found across Iceland.
History & Background
The church was commissioned in 1937 and designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson, who drew inspiration from the hexagonal basalt columns at Svartifoss and elsewhere in Iceland. Construction took 41 years, with the tower completed in 1986. The church is named after the 17th-century Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson. A statue of Leifur Eiríksson — the Norse explorer who discovered America 500 years before Columbus — stands in front, given by the USA to Iceland in 1930.
Key Facts
- ✔Height: 74.5 meters — tallest church in Iceland
- ✔Facade inspired by hexagonal basalt lava columns
- ✔Took 41 years to build (1945–1986)
- ✔Statue of Leifur Eiríksson stands at the entrance
- ✔Observation deck offers 360° views over Reykjavík
