Churches

Sisimiut lies on Greenland's West Coast, 50 m north of the Arctic circle. It is Greenland's second largest town with ca. 5500 inhabitants. People have been living there on and off since 2500 b.C. In 1756 the Danish established a colony which they called Holsteinsborg. The church (1773) and the houses in the old town are from the 18th century, the modern town stretches beyond. Sisimiut liegt 50 km nördlich des Polarkreises an Grönlands Westküste. Es ist mit ca. 5500 EInwohnern die zweitgrößte Stadt Grönlands. Früheste Siedlingsspuren gehen auf 2500 v.Chr. zurück. 1756 gründeten die Dänen eine Kolonie, die sie Holsteinsborg nannten. Die Kirche (1773) und die Häuser der alten Stadt stammen alle aus dem 18. Jh, die heutige moderne Stadt breitet sich dahinter aus.

Greenlands oldest surviving church was built in Denmark, where it was disassembled, all the parts numbered and then shipped to Holsteinsborg (now Sisimiut). There it was reassembled and consecrated in 1775. The church was paid for with 60 barrels of whale blubber. www.sisimiut.museum.gl/Default.aspx?ID=2213

Reykholt church was built in 1886/87. Reykholt's most famous citizen was politician and writer Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241), poet of Heimskringla, the Prose Edda and probably also Egill's Saga.

Situated on Snæfellsnes peninsula, Búðir used to be an important trading post until 1930. Nowadays only the church and a hotel are left. The church dates from 1848 and is one of the oldest wooden churches in Iceland. Deutsch: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BA%C3%B0ir HFF everybody!

Stykkishólmur church at dawn. The church overlooks Breiðafjörður and can be seen from afar. It was designed by architect Jón Haraldsson and consecrated in 1990.

The small church is one of few buildings left at Húsavík in the East fjords of Iceland. The last permanent inhabitants left the place in 1972 but the church is well maintained and open to the public (see note for inside shot). Die kleine Kirche ist eines der wenigen erhaltenen Gebäude in Húsavík in den isländischen Ostfjorden. Die letzten Bewohner gaben den Ort 1972 auf, aber die Kirche istt sehr gepflegt und steht allen Besuchern offen (siehe PiP). HFF folks, enjoy your weekend!

Geirsstaðakirkja is the replica of an old turf church from early Christian times around 1000 A.D. It lies in an area between the rivers Lagarfljót and Jökulsá á Brú called Hróarstunga after an early settler. In 1997 a viking farm with a small church was excavated 2 km from where the replica now stands. Interiour in the note. Geirsstaðakirkja ist der Nachbau einer Torfkirche aus der Frühzeit der Christianisierung Islands um 1000 n.Chr. Im Gebiet Hróarstunga (benannt nach einem frühen Siedler), das zwischen den Flüssen Lagarfljót und Jökulsá á Brú liegt, grub man 1997 einen Wikingerhof aus, der auch eine kleine Kirche hatte. Der Nachbau liegt ca. 2km vom Grabungsort entfernt. Innenansicht im PiP.

Möðrudalur (469m) is the highest and most isolated populated place in Iceland. It has been a working (sheep) farm since settlement times. The church was built in 1949 by farmer Jón Stefánsson in memory of his late wife.He also painted the picture over the altar (see note).

hFF folks! Grenjaðarstaður has been settled since the 11th century, usually by the priests of the adjoining church and their families. The turf farm in its present state dates from 1865 and was inhabited (by up to 30 people!) until 1949 when it passed into the possession of the National Museum of Iceland. The church bells are from 1663/ 1740 and the graveyard has a 15th century rune stone. www.iceland.de/virtuelle-islandreise/nordostisland/der-hof-grenjadarstadur

Akureyrarkirkja was designed by state architect Guðjón Samúelsson and consecrated in 1940.

Hallgrímskirkja was designed by Icelandic state architect Guðjón Samúelsson (1887-1950). Construction of the church started in 1945 but the nave was only completed in 1986. It has a large concert organ built by Johannes Klais, Bonn. The backrests of the benches can be turned so that during concerts people sit facing the organ. For church services the backrests are turned to face the altar and choir.

Tromsø domkirke was built in Gothic revival style and completed in 1861 (architect Christian Heinrich Grosch). The cathedral is one of the biggest wooden churches in Norway.

Built by Danish architect Christian Heinrich Grosch and completed in 1861, this is one of the largest Norwegian churches built of wood and one of the northernmost cathedrals in the world. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troms%C3%B8_Cathedral

Trondenes ist the northernmost medieval stone church in Norway and also the world's northernmost surviving medieval building. The current church was completed around 1434 and is richly decorated inside, boasting of 3 gothic triptychs (see inset photo). Two other churches were found to have been built at the same site, a stave church in the 11th century and a fortified church in the 12th century. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trondenes_Church Trondenes ist die nördlichste mitteralterliche Steinkirche Norwegens und das weltweit nördlichste erhaltene mittelalterliche Gebäude. Die bestehende Kirche wurde um 1434 fertiggestellt und ist berühmt für ihre prachtvolle Innenausstattung mit 3 gotischen Flügelaltären (s. PiP). Die Kirche hatte 2 Vorgängerbauten an gleicher Stelle, eine Stabkirche im 11. Jh und eine befestigte Wehrkirche im 12. Jh. www.nordnorge.com/de/?News=62

Røros Church was financed by Røros Copper Works and was consecrated in 1784. With room for ca. 1600 people it is Norway's 5th largest church and is also called Bergstadens Ziir (the pride of the mining town). Please see notes.

Eine der bedeutendsten Kirchen Norwegens: www.nidarosdomen.no/de de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nidarosdom One of Norway's most important churches: www.nidarosdomen.no/en en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nidaros_Cathedral

A 12th century parish church in the centre of Trondheim, just a few blocks from Nidaros cathedral. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A5r_Frue_Church clickable PiP

HBM, folks!