Landakotskirkja, Reykjavik
Landakotskirkja is the Catholic cathedral of predominantly Protestant Iceland. Photo
Sam Ragnarsson. 
Side view, showing the stark modern lines of this Gothic-inspired church. Photo
Þorsteinn V. Jónsson.
West facade and tower. Photo
John Keogh.
Interior of Christ's Church in Landakot. Photo
Þorsteinn V. Jónsson.
Location map and aerial view of Landakotskirkja. For a larger interactive view, see our Reykjavik Map.
Landakotskirkja (Landakot Church), formally named Basilika Krists konungs (Basilica of Christ the King) and often referred to as Kristskirkja (Christ's Church), is the Catholic cathedral of Iceland, located in Reykjavik.
History
The first Catholic priests to arrive in Iceland after the Reformation were the frenchmen Bernard Bernard and Jean-Baptiste Baudoin. They bought the Landakot farmstead in Reykjavík in the early 19th century and built a small chapel there in 1864. A few years later, a small wooden church was erected by Túngata, close to Landakot.
After the First World War, the number of Icelandic Catholics was growing and there was a need to build a bigger church. They decided to build a Neo-Gothic church and entrusted the task to the modernist architect Guðjón Samúelsson (who also designed the Hallgrimskirkja). After years of construction, Landakotskirkja was finally consecrated on July 23, 1929. It was the largest church in Iceland at the time.
What to See
Today, Landakotskirkja remains a landmark of western Reykjavík. Its square tower has a flat top in place of the standard spire. Because of the community's request for a Neo-Gothic church, it is more conservative in style than Samuelsson's other creations but still has clear modern elements and glacier-inspired lines. The interior is traditionally Gothic, with a patterned tile floor and no aisles or transepts. On the grounds is the only Catholic school in Iceland, Landakotsskóli.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Landakotskirkja; Landakot Church; Basilika Krists konungs; Basilica of Christ the King; Kristskirkja; Christ's Church |
| Dedicated to: | Christ |
| Location: | Reykjavik, Iceland |
| Category: | Cathedrals |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | 1929 |
| Architect: | Guðjón Samúelsson |
| Architecture: | Neo-Gothic |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 64.147461° N, 21.948903° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Western Reykjavik, Iceland |
| Cost: | Free |
Travel Resources
- Reykjavik Map - our detailed interactive map of Reykjavik, plus hand-picked links to more
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Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Landakotskirkja - Wikipedia
Article last updated: 10/24/2009.
