Church of Hateigskirkja


Come to Reykjavik , the capital of Iceland , and not to visit one of the oldest and most interesting churches of the city is simply impossible. Hateigskirkja fits perfectly into the architecture of the city. The church is in the center of old Reykjavik. The surrounding streets are an organic supplement to it.

This combination is surprising, because the church appeared much later. Despite the fact that Hateigskirkia was built no more than half a century ago, the creators adhered to the architectural traditions for the region. Thus, they managed to preserve the ancient face of the city.

Description of the church Hateigskirkja

In the church of Hateigskirkja there are two naves in the basement. On the perimeter the building is decorated with four towers, a bell tower. High, sharp spiers rush into the sky and represent a vivid contrast to the color of the main facade of the building. Thanks to them, the church is visible from anywhere in the city, so it can serve as a good guide. The unusual architecture of the building attracts tourists from all over the world.

The appearance is so reminiscent of old buildings that I simply can not believe that the construction ended several years ago.

Construction of the church

The construction of the new building took in 1957. Then the first stone was laid. The classical project was designed by the architect Haldor Jonsson. In the first days of construction nothing announced about future difficulties.

Workers kept within the deadline. As it seemed, time was short. But there was a problem with financing. In 1965, when the procedure of consecration of the church was held, it became clear that there could be no question of continuing construction work. The building remained unfinished.

But the local population was not ready to part with the project. Therefore, contributed to the resumption of construction. In the early 2000s the church was opened to the public.

At the present time

To this day, tourists who arrived in Reykjavik, visit the church Hateigskirkya. The entrance is free. The mode of work is from 9am to 6pm, every day. The building organizes exhibitions. For example, in 2008 the exhibition of icons of a Serbian priest-icon painter took place.

Each report of the traveler mentions the church of Hateigskirkja. It is awarded with different epithets - funny, unique. From this interest to it does not dry out. The church evokes a lot of emotions, but indifference is not included in their number. The building is conspicuous from any viewing platform.

How to get to the church?

Thanks to the fact that the church of Hateigskirkja is located in the heart of old Reykjavik , you can easily reach it from anywhere in the city by public transport.