An unusual-looking church, the design of Hallgrimskirkja was inspired by the forms created when lava cools into basalt rock. The church was designed by Gudjon Samuel in 1937 and constructed between 1945 and 1986. The tower, at 73 m (239.5 ft) tall, dominates Reykjavik's skyline. The view from the top looks out over the entire city, plus the rocky, volcanic landscape and the sea beside the capital. Inside the church, listen to the melodies wafting from the enormous, 25-ton pipe organ. A statue of Leifur Ericsson, the first European to reach America, stands directly outside the strange edifice. A visit to Hallgrimskirkja represents just the start of the adventure when you use our Reykjavik online travel route planner to plot your vacation.
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Hallgrimskirkja reviews
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The simple, clean look of this towering structure is a sight to see in person. Photos do not do it justice. Get up close and the size begins to draw you in. Inside you feel comfortable with the...
The simple, clean look of this towering structure is a sight to see in person. Photos do not do it justice. Get up close and the size begins to draw you in. Inside you feel comfortable with the... more »
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This beautiful church can be seen from miles away when driving along the coast to Reykjavik. The outside is lovely to see and photograph. There is a monument in the plaza of Leifur Erikson gifted to..... more
This beautiful church can be seen from miles away when driving along the coast to Reykjavik. The outside is lovely to see and photograph. There is a monument in the plaza of Leifur Erikson gifted to..... more »
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Very cool architecture. We went during the day. It was Iceland’s Independence Day! So there were flags around and that made it cool. Inside the church is very plain. The seats can rotate to view either end of the church which was a cool feature! Guessing most of this plain decor and stuff inside is to help focus on the sermon.
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Beautiful minimalist church. So minimalist it’s a bit of a shock after visiting many ornate churches in Paris. The architecture is a representation of the tallest waterfall in Iceland. There was a free organ concert on their powerful organ. Also recommend going to the top of church tower for a 360 view of Reykjavík, bay, and mountains.
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