Visit West Iceland

THE SETTLEMENT EXHIBITION

This exhibition provides an insight into the settlement of Iceland. It tells how the land was discovered, how the Viking sailors conquered the open ocean and why they left their homelands in Norway. It tells of the first men to set foot on the island and how the land was settled up to the establishment of the first parliament in the world, the Althing, at Thingvellir in 930AD. Multi-media and theatrical techniques are employed to help the visitor experience first hand the trepidation and exitement of setting off over the open ocean for lands unknown. Audio guides lead the visitor on a voyage of discovery and are available in English, German, Frendh, Italian, Polish and Norwegian, Spanish, Japanese and Russian. A complete circuit of the exhibition takes about 30 minutes. 

THE EGILS SAGA EXHIBITION

This exhibition profiles one of the most colourful of all the saga heroes, Egil, the son of Skalla-Grím Kveldúlfsson. One of the very first settlers, Egil’s father arrived from Norway just 10 years after the first land had been claimed. The Saga of this family’s pioneering and settlement of the Borgarfjörd region provides a brilliant insight in the tumultuous years of settlement. Egil himself is a larger than life hero, an intriguing combination of violent Viking and sensitive poet. The saga is a complex and vibrant intertwining of battles and love affairs, sorcery and pagan lore.  Situated in the stone-walled basement of the Centre, the exhibition leads the visitor through the twists and turns of this fantastic Saga. Audio guides for the exhibition are available in English, German, French, Italian, Polish, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Norwegian and a complete circuit takes about 30 minutes.