Keldur is a turf-house manor farm in Rangárvellir, in South Iceland, with the volcano Hekla to the north. About 20 buildings stand on the site, and the farm was lived in until 1946. The foundations of the dwelling are dated to the 11th century, making it the oldest house in the country. It is now a museum, and Iceland has put it on its tentative world heritage list for the turf house tradition. The interiors are opened on a guided tour.
Keldur Turf House
Local name: Keldur
The foundations of the dwelling at Keldur are dated to the 11th century, making it the oldest house in Iceland.
- Entrance
- The guided tour is paid.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking and toilet. The entrance is not wheelchair accessible.
- Parking
- Free car park and free street parking, close to the site.
- Difficulty
- Easy — guided walk through the farm buildings
- Transport
- Self-drive — north of Hella via Route 264
- Advance booking
- Not required. Tour tickets are sold online in advance and at the office on arrival.
- Hours
- Open daily, 10:00–17:00.
- Address
- Keldur, 851 Hella
What makes it special
From the yard the buildings look low and plain. The tour goes inside, and the rooms run much further back than the outside suggests. Turf laid over stone walls did the insulating. About 20 buildings make up the manor, and people lived in it until 1946. An underground passage leads from the dwelling to the farm stream. It was found again in a 1998 excavation, and passages of this kind, jarðhus, appear in the Icelandic sagas. The farm is old enough to be named in Njal's saga, and the Oddaverjar chieftains held it in the 13th century. A log church, Keldnakirkja, was built here in 1875.
Good to know
- Without the guided tour you see the turf houses only from outside. The caretaker is the one who opens the interiors.
- The office sits in the newest building and sells souvenirs, coffee and small snacks.
- There are toilets on site.
- You can walk the site on your own before and after the tour.
Getting there
Keldur is reached by car. The final approach runs for several kilometres on rough road that feels like an F-road. Parking is close to the farm, and the turf houses stand a short way across the yard from where you leave the car.
Best time to visit
Best: arrive with enough of the day left to take the guided tour, which is the only way into the buildings.
Avoid: turning up close to closing time. The outside of the farm can be walked at any point in the opening hours, but the interiors are the reason people come, and the caretaker opens them.
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The tour is guided for a reason — doorways are low, floors are uneven, and the old tunnel is cramped; mind your head and follow the guide.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you go inside the turf houses?
Yes, on the guided tour. The caretaker takes you in and explains how the rooms were used. From outside there is no telling how far back the interior goes.How old is Keldur?
The foundations of the dwelling are dated to the 11th century, which makes it the oldest house in Iceland. The manor was lived in until 1946 and holds about 20 buildings.What is the underground passage?
A tunnel leads from the dwelling to the farm stream. It was rediscovered during an archaeological excavation in 1998. Passages of this kind, called jarðhus, are mentioned in the Icelandic sagas.Is Keldur a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Not yet. Iceland placed Keldur on its tentative world heritage list in December 2001, and in February 2011 relisted it under the turf house tradition.