Skalholt

Folklore

Story & Folklore

Skálholt was the religious capital of Iceland for nearly 800 years — from Iceland's conversion to Christianity in 1000 AD until the bishopric moved to Reykjavík in 1785. The site had Iceland's first cathedral, its first school, and its first printing press. The bishop of Skálholt wielded more practical power in medieval Iceland than almost any other figure. The last Catholic bishop, Jón Arason, was executed here in 1550 as part of the Protestant Reformation — the only bishop executed in northern Europe during the Reformation without a formal trial. Today's cathedral is a modern (1956–1963) replace of previous buildings, built over the foundations of the medieval originals. Archaeological excavations have revealed extensive medieval remains beneath the current structure.