On the land of Litli-Bakki in Hróarstunga in East-Iceland, one can find a duplicate of a 1000-year-old farm turf church, which stood on this spot a 1000 years in the past in Commonwealth Age (þjóðveldisöld) in Viking time (930-1262).
An archaeological dig again in 1997 on the land of Geirsstaðir, run by the East Iceland Cultural Museum – Minjasafn Austurlands, unearthed previous ruins of a farmstead, consisting of a Viking long-house, a turf-church, and two smaller buildings. A round turf-wall was unearthed across the buildings.
High picture: Geirsstaðakirkja church
Inside Geirsstaðakirkja Turf Church
Geirsstaðakirkja turf church is constructed of turf, wooden, and stone in response to the previous methods of constructing turf homes. Inside this small turf church, one can find a picket altar with an attractive huge picket cross.
On the altar lies a carved visitor guide and data on the turf church, wrapped in plastic as there’s a small open window above the altar.
The church is believed to be the home-church of Hróar, who was the son of Uni the Danish Garðarsson.
Geirsstaðakirkja Turf Church
This constructing type was widespread right here in the course of the first ages of Christianity in Viking time, and a standard church kind in Norway. It’s believed that it was a home church, because it have been, solely meant for the farm.
There are farm church buildings throughout Iceland and you’ll see a farm church within the remotest locations in Iceland. You’ll be able to see on this church-map what number of church buildings there are in Iceland. I attempt to go to all of them on my travels in my nation.
Geirsstaðakirkja turf church was in-built 1999-2001. The funds for the constructing of this church have been largely from the funds of the EU, but additionally from the Icelandic Establishments “Vísindasjóður Rannsóknarráðs Íslands“, “Norður-Hérað” and “Nýsköpunarsjóður atvinnulífsins“. 
Bjarni Ólafsson carved the paintings within the door-post of the church by a drawing from Gunnar Bjarnason, house-builder.
The turf church, which faces east and west in response to an previous custom, was blessed in 2001 and a Christening occurred right here that very same 12 months.
It’s such a beautiful little turf church with carved benches in entrance the place one can have a picnic. It’s so price stopping by the church imagining that you’re again in Viking instances in Iceland. I believe it is a job nicely finished – a very applaudable venture.
Geirsstaðakirkja Turf Church
This turf church is a duplicate of an historic turf church, however there are solely 5 turf church buildings of their unique kind left in Iceland.
The largest of them is Saurbæjarkirkja turf church and the one that’s thought of to be probably the most stunning of the remaining turf church buildings is Víðimýrarkirkja turf church. Then there may be Grafarkirkja turf church, which is the oldest turf church in Iceland, and Núpsstaðakirkja turf church, which is the smallest one of many turf church buildings in Iceland.
The final turf church to be in-built Iceland is Hofskirkja turf church. Then there is another turf church at Árbæjarsafn Museum in Reykjavík, which is rebuilt from baðstofa wooden from Skagafjörður, within the liking of a turf church at Silfrastaðir.
The turf and rock Viking ship
By the church, one can find paintings within the liking of a Viking ship, constructed by Donald Gunn, a Scottish stone-builder.
Geirsstaðakirkja turf church is positioned at the junction of roads 925 and 926, near Lagarfossvirkjun hydroelectric energy station. The turf church might be seen from the highway and there may be quick access to it.
Geirsstaðakirkja turf church
There may be a lot to see in East-Iceland, however I’ve solely written a few travel-blogs about this stunning space:
The surprisingly trying Sound Sculpture Tvísöngur in Seyðisfjörður in East-Iceland
Dvergasteinn – the Rock of the Dwarfs – by Seyðisfjörður in East-Iceland – Icelandic Folklore
The majestic Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss Waterfalls in East-Iceland
Have a beautiful time exploring East-Iceland 🙂
