Hólar Cathedral is the church of the Bishop of Hólar, in Hólar in Northwest Iceland. The present building was raised between 1757 and 1763 and consecrated on 20 November 1763. Six earlier churches stood on the same site, the first of them in 1050. The cathedral lost its status in 1801, when the diocese was dissolved, and regained it in 1909, when the diocese was re-established. A separate tower from 1950 stands next to it. Inside there is an organ and older church art.
Hólar Cathedral
Local name: Hóladómkirkja
The church has never had a steeple: the tower beside it was raised in 1950 as a memorial to Jón Arason, the last Catholic bishop of Hólar, killed in 1550.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking; the tower is reached by stairs
- Parking
- Two free car parks about 70 m away, both asphalt; wheelchair-accessible parking available
- Transport
- Bus stop Hólar, 94 m from the church
- Hours
- Daily 10:00–17:00
- Address
- Hólar, 551 Skagafjörður
What makes it special
Seven churches have stood on this spot. The first went up in 1050, and the one standing now was built between 1757 and 1763 to a design by the Danish architect Laurids de Thurah, then consecrated on 20 November 1763.
The church never had a steeple. The tower beside it dates from 1950 and commemorates Jón Arason, the last Catholic bishop of Hólar, killed in 1550 along with his two sons for opposing the Reformation. The tower is entered on its own: one visitor found the church door locked and the tower stairs open.
Inside there is an organ and older church art, and the building is used for music as well as for worship.
Good to know
- The door is not always open: one visitor found the church locked and went up the tower stairs instead.
- Late season: on 1 September one visitor found everything at Hólar shut down.
- Tower: going up means stairs, and one visitor summed the visit up as "lots of stairs".
- Toilets: the nearest are 73 metres from the church, with a second set 444 metres away.
Getting there
Cars come right up to the church. Two asphalt car parks lie about 70 metres away, and the walk from either to the door is under 100 metres. A bus stop sits about the same distance off. Public toilets are 73 metres from the building, and the Hólar í Hjaltadal information sign stands 66 metres away. There is no long approach here: you park and walk.
Best time to visit
Best: before September, while Hólar is still running and someone is on site.
Avoid: the start of September onwards — one visitor arriving on 1 September found everything at Hólar closed down.
The church is listed as open every day, but getting inside depends on the place being staffed. Another visitor found the door locked and only the tower stairs open.
Sun & daylight
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Frequently asked questions
Is Hólar Cathedral open to visitors?
The listed hours are 10:00 to 17:00 every day. The door is not always unlocked: one visitor found the church closed and only the tower stairs open.How old is the building?
It was built between 1757 and 1763 and consecrated on 20 November 1763. It is the seventh church on the site; the first was built in 1050.Why does the tower stand apart from the church?
The church building never had a steeple. The tower was put up next to it in 1950 as a memorial to Jón Arason and his two sons, killed in 1550.Is there parking at the church?
Two free asphalt car parks lie about 70 metres from the church, and wheelchair-accessible parking is available.Can you reach it by bus?
A bus stop named Hólar is 94 metres from the church.