Reykholt and Snorralaug
The farm where Snorri Sturluson wrote and was murdered, with his bathing pool still fed by hot water.
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Snorri Sturluson lived at Reykholt from 1206 until his death and wrote here: the Prose Edda, which preserves more of Norse mythology than any other single source, and Heimskringla, the history of the Norwegian kings. He was also a chieftain in a violent period, and in September 1241 men sent by the Norwegian king killed him in the cellar of this farm. Snorralaug, a circular stone pool fed by hot water through a conduit from a spring, sits beside the site and is one of the oldest man-made structures in Iceland still in its original form; a passage led from it towards the house. The Snorrastofa centre alongside runs research and an exhibition.
What you actually see
- Where the Prose Edda was written - the source for most Norse mythology.
- A murder in 1241 - Snorri killed in the cellar by the king's men.
- Snorralaug - a stone pool still fed by its old conduit.
- Snorrastofa - the research centre and exhibition beside the church.
When to go
Year round; the exhibition has fuller summer hours. Two to three hours.
Honest expectations
Bathing in Snorralaug is not permitted - it is a protected monument. The medieval remains are mostly below ground and interpreted rather than visible. The exhibition is modest. The site is quiet, which most visitors count as a gain.
Nearby
Deildartunguhver is minutes away; Hraunfossar is further up road 518.
What to pack for Reykholt and Snorralaug
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.