Krysuvik Church is a small timber church on the Reykjanes peninsula, in Iceland's Capital Region. The church built in 1857 burned down in 2010, and the building standing on the site today is a copy of it. Chains anchor it to the ground. A graveyard lies beside the church: only two graves carry markers, and the rest are grassy mounds. There is no settlement around it, and the land runs to lava and moss in every direction. Most people stop here on a drive around Reykjanes.
Krysuvik Church
Local name: Krýsuvíkurkirkja
The church built here in 1857 burned down in 2010; the building on the site today is a rebuilt copy, chained to the ground.
- Accessibility
- The entrance is not wheelchair accessible.
- Parking
- Free car park about 70 m from the church, plus a second one about 265 m away. Free street parking as well.
- Transport
- No public transport: there is no bus stop within 5 km of the church.
What makes it special
Krysuvik Church stands on its own on the Reykjanes peninsula, with no village around it. The church built in 1857 burned down in 2010, and the building on the site today is a rebuilt copy of it. Chains run from the walls to anchors in the ground and hold it against the wind. Beside it lies a small graveyard. Only two graves carry markers; the rest are low grassy mounds in the turf. The interior was refurbished with the rebuild. The site is quiet: there is nothing here but the church, the graves and open ground in every direction.
Good to know
- No facilities: there are no toilets and no drinking water within 5 km of the church. Plan for that before you set off.
- The graveyard: only two graves are marked. The rest are grassy mounds beside the church, so watch where you walk.
- Information board: a board stands next to the car park, a short way from the church itself.
Getting there
There is no public transport to Krysuvik Church. The nearest bus stop is more than 5 km away, so you arrive by car. The road ends at the site, and the car park sits about 70 m from the church. A second car park lies about 265 m back. Nothing else is built here, so the church is in sight from the moment you park.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Krysuvik Church the original building?
No. The church built in 1857 burned down in 2010. What stands on the site today is a rebuilt copy of it, and the interior is new with the rest of the building.Why is the church chained to the ground?
Chains run from the building to anchors in the ground. They hold it down against the wind, which crosses the open plain here with nothing to break it.Is there anything to see apart from the church?
A graveyard lies beside the church. Only two graves have markers; the rest are grassy mounds. An information board stands by the car park.Where is Krysuvik Church?
On the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland, within the Capital Region. It stands away from any settlement, at the end of a side road.