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Stykkisholmur: Places of Interest
Drapuhlidarfjall Mountain
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Location: Near Stykkisholmur by road no 54.
Drapuhlidarfjall Mountain is beautifully colourful. It is composed of sulphur, basalt, jasper, rhyolite and lignite. As usual with lignite deposits, fossiled plants and petrified wood can be found.
Drapuhlidafjall is 527 m high and lies south - west of Stykkisholmur on road no. 54.
Other places of interest in the area Helgafell Holy Mountain , Flatey Island
Drapuhlidafjall is 527 m high and lies south - west of Stykkisholmur on road no. 54.
Other places of interest in the area Helgafell Holy Mountain , Flatey Island
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Flatey Island
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Location: An Island in Breidafjordur Bay
Flatey means "flat island". The old houses, shops and warehouse buildings on Flatey reflect the optimism and development of the period around 1900.
In former times, the island was important both as a fishing centre and as the hub of commercial life of the Breidafjordur area. Traders from the Hanseatic League in Germany ran a trading post here. The first Icelandic trader received a temporary licence in 1589, and in 1777 Flatey received a charter as a town.
Flateyjarbok, (the Book of Flatey), one of the most important and impressive of the ancient Icelandic saga manuscripts, was preserved on Flatey in the Middle Ages. A photocopy reproduction is on display in the library (the oldest one in Iceland, built in 1864 in the heyday of Flateys prosperity.)
The church on Flatey dates from 1926. The frescoes in the apse were painted by Kristjana and Baltasar Samper and are based on the local landscape and traditional occupations.
Flatey has been an inspiration to many artists and the film "The Bridegroom" (Brudguminn) by Baltasar Kormákur was filmed on Flatey in 2007.
Hotel, guesthouse and restaurant. Other places of interest in the area Helgafell Holy Mountain , Drapuhlidarfjall Mountain
In former times, the island was important both as a fishing centre and as the hub of commercial life of the Breidafjordur area. Traders from the Hanseatic League in Germany ran a trading post here. The first Icelandic trader received a temporary licence in 1589, and in 1777 Flatey received a charter as a town.
Flateyjarbok, (the Book of Flatey), one of the most important and impressive of the ancient Icelandic saga manuscripts, was preserved on Flatey in the Middle Ages. A photocopy reproduction is on display in the library (the oldest one in Iceland, built in 1864 in the heyday of Flateys prosperity.)
The church on Flatey dates from 1926. The frescoes in the apse were painted by Kristjana and Baltasar Samper and are based on the local landscape and traditional occupations.
Flatey has been an inspiration to many artists and the film "The Bridegroom" (Brudguminn) by Baltasar Kormákur was filmed on Flatey in 2007.
Hotel, guesthouse and restaurant. Other places of interest in the area Helgafell Holy Mountain , Drapuhlidarfjall Mountain
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Helgafell Holy Mountain
Open
Location: About 2 km south of Stykkisholmur.
Holy Mountain, 73 m with a breathtaking panoramic view across Breiðafjordur Bay. A viewing dial is at the top.
Folklore advises anyone climbing the mountain for the first time to start north of the church at the grave of Gudrun Osvifursdottir (heroine of Laxdaela Saga, died 1008) and three wishes will be granted when ascending the mountain without looking back or speaking. The wishes have to be of good intent, and the wisher tells no one and faces east when making them!
A small remnant of a wall on the mountain top is dated 1184 and was part of a nearby monastery built at this time. Other places of interest in the area Kirkjufell mountain , Flatey Island , Drapuhlidarfjall Mountain
Folklore advises anyone climbing the mountain for the first time to start north of the church at the grave of Gudrun Osvifursdottir (heroine of Laxdaela Saga, died 1008) and three wishes will be granted when ascending the mountain without looking back or speaking. The wishes have to be of good intent, and the wisher tells no one and faces east when making them!
A small remnant of a wall on the mountain top is dated 1184 and was part of a nearby monastery built at this time. Other places of interest in the area Kirkjufell mountain , Flatey Island , Drapuhlidarfjall Mountain
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