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Landakotskirkja, Reykjavik

Landkotskirkja, Reykjavik
Landakotskirkja is the Catholic cathedral of predominantly Protestant Iceland. Photo Creative Commons License Sam Ragnarsson.

Side
Side view, showing the stark modern lines of this Gothic-inspired church. Photo Creative Commons License Þorsteinn V. Jónsson.

West Facade
West facade and tower. Photo Creative Commons License John Keogh.

Interior
Interior of Christ's Church in Landakot. Photo Creative Commons License 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

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

  1. Landakotskirkja - Wikipedia


Article last updated: 10/24/2009.





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