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Skálholt.jpeg
Skálholt is an historical site situated in the south of Iceland at the river Hvitá.
The village Skálholt consists only of a relatively big church and a few houses. Nevertheless, it has been of great importance for the history of the country. Since the Middle Ages and until 1785, it was along with Hólar, one of two bishop's sieges in Iceland making it a cultural and political center as well. The first school in the country was founded at Skálholt. And in the year 1550 the last catholic bishop, Jón Arason of Hólar, was executed there along with his two sons.
The size of the church seems exceptional by Icelandic standards. In fact, the length of the church constructed from 1956 to 1963 is 30 m. But some of its predecessors were even longer (up to 50 m). Some other Scandinavian countries contributed to the present interior of the church.
Adam of Bremen, writing around 1075, describes Skálholt ("Scaldholz") as the largest city in Iceland.
See also
External links
- official website (http://www.south.is/skalholt.html)da:Skálholt
de:Skálholt fr:Skálholt is:Skálholt no:Skálholt pl:Skálholt sv:Skálholt