| Hólar | |
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| — Village — | |
| Hólar church | |
| Location of the Municipality of Skagafjörður | |
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Hólar
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Iceland |
| Constituency[1] | Norðvesturkjördæmi |
| Region[2] | Norðurland vestra |
| County | Skagafjarðarsýsla |
| Municipality | Skagafjörður |
| Population (January 2011) | |
| • Total | 89 |
| Póstnúmer | 570 |
| Website | Official website |
Hólar (Hólar í Hjaltadal) is a small community located in the Skagafjörður district and situated in northern Iceland.[3]
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Hólar is located in the Hjaltadalur valley, some 379 km (235.50 mi) from the national capital at Reykjavík. Hólar has a population of around 100. Hólar is the site of the main campus of Holar University College, a site of historical buildings and archeological excavation, home to the Center for the history of the Icelandic horse, Hólar cathedral and the turf house Nýibær.
The first printing press was introduced to Hólar in 1530. Hólar Agricultural College was founded 1882. The college was renamed Hólar University College in 2003.[4]
Near the end of the 10th century, King Olaf I of Norway forced all of his subjects to accept Christianity. He then sent missionaries to Iceland to convert them to Christianity which they quickly accepted. Around 1000 Iceland made a peaceful decision that all should convert. Despite this the godar or ruling class of Iceland, still maintained their power. Some built their own churches, and others were ordained.
Holar was the episcopal seat for the northern see, and a cultural- and educational centre for almost seven centuries (1106-1798). Hólar was founded as a diocese in 1106 by bishop Jón Ögmundsson and soon became one of Iceland's two main centers of learning. Hólar played an important part in the medieval politics of Iceland, and was the seat of Guðmundur Arason in his struggle with Icelandic chieftains during the time of the commonwealth. Under Jón Arason Hólar was the last remaining stronghold of Catholicism in Iceland during the Reformation. The religious conflict was brutally resolved in 1550 when the pools last Catholic Bishop Jón Arason was taken to the south of Iceland and beheaded in Skálholt with his two sons. The best known Lutheran bishop of Hólar was Guðbrandur Þorláksson. The present church was said to be fully constructed in 1763.