Faskrudsfjordur
An east fjord village with French street signs, built up around the fishermen who came from Brittany.
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From the middle of the nineteenth century until the First World War, French schooners fished off eastern Iceland in large numbers, many crewed from Brittany and Normandy, and Faskrudsfjordur became their base on shore: a hospital, a chapel, a consulate and a cemetery were built for them. Hundreds of French sailors are buried in Iceland, some of them here. The village keeps the connection deliberately - streets carry names in both languages, the restored French hospital houses a museum about the fishery, and a French days festival is held in summer. It is a small place at the head of a fjord, and the story is what makes it worth the detour.
What you actually see
- Street signs in two languages - Icelandic and French.
- The restored French hospital - now a museum about the fishery.
- A French cemetery - sailors buried far from home.
- A summer French festival - the connection kept up.
When to go
June to August for the museum and the festival. Half a day.
Honest expectations
The museum keeps summer hours and closes for much of the year. The village is small and quickly walked. Getting there means the fjord road or the tunnel from Reydarfjordur. Facilities are limited off season.
Nearby
Reydarfjordur is through the tunnel; Stodvarfjordur is south along the coast.
What to pack for Faskrudsfjordur
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.