Þingeyraklausturskirkja is one of the few stone churches in Iceland, standing on farmland in the Northwest at the end of a gravel road off the ring road. The site held the first monastery in the north of the country, founded by St Jón Ögmundarson, and learned monks lived here, among them the hermit Björn. The last abbot, Björn Jónsson, was a son of Jón Arason, and both were beheaded at Skálholt during the Reformation. The church is known for its unusual decorations and relics, and for the stars on its ceiling.
Thingeyraklausturskirkja church
Local name: Þingeyraklausturskirkja
Stone church on the site of northern Iceland's first monastery, with a star-adorned ceiling.
- Accessibility
- Step-free entrance and a wheelchair-accessible parking bay.
- Parking
- Car park at the church, 22 m away, with a wheelchair-accessible bay.
- Difficulty
- No walk in — the car park stands 22 m from the church.
- Transport
- None — no bus stop within 5 km of the church.
- Hours
- Interior in summer only, and not always unlocked even then; the exterior can be seen at any time.
- Address
- N Westshore Dr 541, 541 Sault Ste. Marie, Iceland
What makes it special
Stone is rare in Icelandic church building, and this is one of the few. Inside, the ceiling is set with stars, and the church keeps old decorations and relics of an unusual kind.
The ground under it carries more history than the building. This was the site of the first monastery in the north of Iceland, founded by St Jón Ögmundarson, and learned monks lived here — among them the hermit Björn, whose mansion in heaven was seen in a vision recorded in the saga of St Guðmundur the Good. The last abbot, Björn Jónsson, was a son of Jón Arason; both were beheaded at Skálholt during the Reformation. An information board on the site sets out the story.
The catch is the door. The interior is a summer matter, and it has been found locked even then, so the façade and the setting have to carry the stop on their own more often than not.
Good to know
- Getting inside is the gamble. The interior is a summer opening, and the door has been found locked in early June — plan the stop around the exterior.
- The artefact building beside the church has also been found closed, so do not build the visit around it.
- Toilets stand about 40 m from the church, and an information board on the site sets out its history.
- No bus. The nearest stop is more than 5 km away; you arrive by car.
- Step-free entrance and a wheelchair-accessible parking bay; the inside is only reachable when the church is unlocked.
Getting there
The turn off the ring road puts you on gravel, and the track in is pocked with potholes most of the way — a low car will want a gentle pace. The drive is part of the visit: open farmland on both sides, sheep and horses loose on the grass.
Parking sits at the church, 22 m from it, with a wheelchair-accessible bay, so nothing is left on foot. No bus comes out here and the nearest stop is more than 5 km away, so a car is the only way in.
Best time to visit
Best: summer, the only stretch when the interior is meant to be open and the one time to plan on seeing the ceiling.
Avoid: winter, when the church is shut and the visit comes down to the façade and the drive in.
The opening is the whole question here. The door has been found locked in early June despite the summer window, so treat an open church as the bonus and the exterior as the certain part of the stop.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
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Thingeyraklausturskirkja church on the map
The gravel road in is heavily potholed, and sheep and horses roam loose beside it. Keep the speed down and be ready for an animal stepping into the road.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you go inside Þingeyraklausturskirkja?
Only in summer, and not reliably even then — the door has been found locked in early June. The exterior can be seen at any time of year.How do you get to the church?
By car. A gravel road runs in from the ring road, potholed most of the way, and parking sits 22 m from the church. The nearest bus stop is more than 5 km off.Why is the site important?
It held the first monastery in the north of Iceland, founded by St Jón Ögmundarson. Its last abbot, Björn Jónsson, son of Jón Arason, was beheaded at Skálholt during the Reformation.Is it accessible for wheelchair users?
The entrance is step-free and there is a wheelchair-accessible parking bay a few metres from the church. Getting inside still depends on the church being unlocked.Are there toilets at the church?
Yes, about 40 m from the church, along with an information board about the site.