Njardvik: Viking Ship and Historical Ways of Life

A Viking ship that crossed the Atlantic and a restored house that tells of living conditions in the past: Njardvik offers fascinating points of interest for anyone interested in history and culture while on holiday. Local topics range from seafaring and simple forms of housing to a church with a clock dating from 1725.

The Íslendingur and its Atlantic voyage

Víkingaheimar is built around the Íslendingur. The full-size Viking ship is an exact replica of the famous Gokstad ship. Its own voyage is also part of the story: In 2000, the Íslendingur sailed from Iceland to New York, covering 4,200 nautical miles. The ship thus brings together the design of a well-known historical vessel and a specific voyage across the Atlantic.

When planning a holiday together, this is easy to distinguish from Njardvik’s other historical themes: here, the focus is on a ship and a sea voyage, while Stekkjarkot is about the homes and everyday lives of former residents. If you are travelling with children, you can explore different aspects of local history rather than grouping all your impressions under a single theme.

Stekkjarkot: a house and its living conditions

Stekkjarkot is a classic example of roughly built turf, stone and timber houses, once common on the Reykjanes Peninsula and in other coastal areas of Iceland. Following its restoration, the house gives a vivid impression of what buildings of this type looked like. The focus is therefore not only on the construction methods, but also on an earlier way of life.

Stekkjarkot was a so-called þurrabúð. Its residents were not allowed to keep livestock such as cows or sheep and were therefore entirely dependent on the sea. This restriction makes the living conditions tangible: the house represents a way of life in which people’s provision was closely tied to the sea. For a trip where you would like to learn about the everyday lives of former residents as well as seafaring history, this focus complements the story of the Íslendingur with a different perspective.

Stekkjarkot can be visited on request (telephone: 865 6160). The museum house in Innri-Njarðvík is accessible by prior appointment only. If you would like to include these places in your travel plans, take note of the arrangements for each: visits to Stekkjarkot are by request, while the museum house requires an appointment.

Church and houses in Innri-Njarðvík

The church in Innri-Njarðvík was consecrated in 1886. Its hewn stones were brought from the nearby shore and from the heath above the inhabited area. One detail in the church tower also gives local history a specific date: one of the three clocks dates from 1725. The church thus brings together the year of its consecration and a considerably older clock; the two dates refer to different elements.

Another historic construction date belongs to Njarðvíkurbraut 42: the house there was built in 1906. Together with the church and Stekkjarkot, this house shows that Njardvik’s cultural themes are not limited to Viking seafaring. The different buildings and historical dates offer several ways to explore local history without having to combine them into a single narrative.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Njardvik, you can also consider how much local history you would like to include in your holiday.

You can also find other destinations in Vogar, Gardur, Hafnir, Grindavík, Sandgerði, Kálfatjörn and Reykjanesbær.

For the broader travel overview: Suðurnes.