Grundarfjörður

Landscape in Grundarfjörður.

Grundarfjörður is a small town, situated in the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the west of Iceland. It is situated between a mountain range and the sea. The nearby mountain Kirkjufell forms a small peninsula.

Overview

The town received the right to do commerce in 1786. Around 1800, French merchants came to Iceland and lived in Grundarfjörður, where they constructed a church and a hospital of their own. The town has become rich through the fishing industry, and this wealth shows in the style of the original, luxurious houses being built.

The road to nearby Stykkishólmur crosses a big lava field, called Berserkjahraun. This is partially warm, so that even in winter, there is not snow everywhere. The name of the lava field comes from the Eyrbyggja saga, according to which two Berserkers were slain here by their master, because one of them fell in love with his master's daughter.

Twin towns and cities

• Paimpol, France, since 2004

See also

• Volcanism in Iceland
• List of settlements in Iceland

References

External links

• Official website

Cities and towns in Iceland Álftanes Akranes Akureyri Blönduós Bolungarvík Borgarnes Dalvík Egilsstaðir Eskifjörður Eyrarbakki Fáskrúðsfjörður Garðabær Garður Grindavík Grundarfjörður Hafnarfjörður Hella Höfn Húsavík Hvammstangi Hveragerði Hvolsvöllur Ísafjörður Keflavík Kópavogur Mosfellsbær Neskaupstaður Njarðvík Ólafsfjörður Ólafsvík Patreksfjörður Reyðarfjörður Reykjavík Sandgerði Sauðárkrókur Selfoss Seltjarnarnes Seyðisfjörður Siglufjörður Skagaströnd Stokkseyri Stykkishólmur Þorlákshöfn Vestmannaeyjar Vík í Mýrdal Vogar Vopnafjörður