About Hallgrímskirkja

Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran parish church located in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. It is made of concrete, boasts a tower 73 meters high, and is the largest church in Iceland. The church is named after Hallgrímur Pétursson, an Icelandic clergyman and poet.

The Church as a Landmark

Hallgrímskirkja is located in the center of Reykjavík and is a landmark visible from anywhere in the city. The architect Guðjón Samúelsson designed it in 1937, and its design is modeled after the Icelandic landscape of basalt lava. The church relates to the expressionist architecture of Denmark's Grundtvig's Church.

History of Construction

Construction of the church began in 1945 and took 41 years to complete, finishing in 1986. The landmark tower was completed before the rest of the church; the crypt was finished in 1948, and the spire and wings were completed in 1974. The church interior is 1,676 square meters, and a major renovation of the main tower took place in 2008 and was completed in 2009.

Pipe Organ

Hallgrímskirkja is equipped with a large pipe organ built by the German organ builder Johannes Klais of Bonn. This organ is magnificent, featuring 4 manual keyboards, a pedal keyboard, 72 working stops, and 5,275 pipes.

The Church as an Observation Tower

The church also serves as an observation tower, and the observation deck offers a panoramic view of Reykjavík and the surrounding mountains. You can take an elevator to the top floor, but there is a charge.

Leif Erikson Statue

In the square in front of the church, there is a statue of the explorer Leif Erikson by Alexander Calder. This statue was donated by the United States of America in 1930 to commemorate the one-thousandth anniversary of the Althing (Icelandic Parliament) in 930.