The majestic Hallgrímskirkja Church sits at the top of Skolavordustigur Street in the city centre of Reykjavik, Iceland. It was completed in 1986 and took over 40 years to build and it was then renovated in 2009.The iconic building is 74.5 metres high and with a visit to the top you will get amazing views of Reykjavik.
The exterior is designed to resemble lava flows that are all around Iceland’s natural landscape, especially the basalt columns around Svartifoss Waterfall.
Architect Gudjon Samuelsson designed the church in 1937 and often used Icelandic nature as motives. Thus the interesting shapes of the basalt rock columns surrounding Svartifoss Waterfall inspired Samuelsson.
Inside, the Church features a gargantuan pipe organ that weighs over 25 tonnes and is 15 metres tall, designed and constructed by German organ builder Johannes Klais of Bonn.
Named after the 17th Century hymn writer Hallgrimur Petursson, Hallgrimskirkja is a Lutheran church, as are most churches in Iceland. You can visit the Church for free, but the entrance fee for the tower is 900 ISK per adult or 100 ISK for children ages 7 – 14.
