斯克里杜克劳斯图尔历史遗址

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.