Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.07.2008, Síða 28

28 | REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 08—2008
DESTINATIONS By SigurÐur kjartan kriStinSSon — photo By Skari
Museum of Icelandic Sorcery
and Witchcraft in Strandir
If you’re up for a spooky trip to the West
Fjords, this museum is more than ideal.
The occult has always been strong in
the Strandir area, only a three hour
drive from the capital. In the so-called
age of witchcraft in Iceland in the 17th
Century the burning of hexes was initi-
ated in Strandir, but you can learn all
about this and also about the folklore
connected to sorcery and witchcraft.
The French in Fáskrúðsfjörður
Fáskrúðsfjörður
In the 18th Century, French yacht sail-
ors travelled to Faskrudsfjordur and en-
riched the previous culture immensely.
They built hospitals, a chapel, a consul-
ate, and even used antiquated sailboats
to build houses. In this museum you
can get acquainted with the French
contribution to Iceland in Fáskrúðs-
fjörður.
The Icelandic Phallus Museum
Húsavík
It may sound a bit bizarre that one of
the main attractions of this remote town
is an amply government-supported
museum which solely exhibits various
kinds of male genitalia, but apparently
it sells. Who hasn’t speculated how big
a whale phallus is? Well, here’s your
chance to find out!
The Icelandic Herring Era
Museum
Siglufjordur
Every Icelander looks back at the so-
called “Herring-Adventure” in the
1950s with sparks in his or her eyes.
Regrettably, the adventure didn’t last
for that long as the “Ocean’s silver” had
soon all been transported to land. In
this Maritime museum, the largest in
Iceland, visitors can learn about this
stimulating era, while natives get the
opportunity to reminisce.
Krafla Geothermal Station
Mývatnssveit
If you’re into geothermal heat and vol-
canoes you should go to the Krafla
Geothermal Station. There was a great
political controversy surrounding its
construction because of the stagger-
ing proximity to the active volcano, but
today it operates still. There you can
learn about the station’s energy pro-
duction and also hike up to “Hell”, the
popular explosion crater nearby.
The House of Nonni
Akureyri
This museum is dedicated to the writer
and Jesuit priest Jón Sveinsson. Jón
Sveinsson was born of common folk
in Iceland but early in his life travelled
abroad and gained a felicitous opportu-
nity when a Frenchman offered to pay
for his studies in France. He finished
his studies and started teaching in
Denmark. Most Icelanders know of this
character due to a TV-series based on
his life called “Nonni and Manni.”
Museum of Skógar
Skógar
Skógar is one of Iceland’s finest spots
where you can witness some of the
country’s jewels such as the Waterfall
of Skógar. Just a stone’s throw away, the
museum lets you sneak a peek into ear-
ly Icelandic life. In a reproduction of an
Icelandic village, you can find the local
church, the school, the farmhouse, the
storehouse, as well as the newest ad-
dition to the museum: a hydroelectric
plant.
The Settlement Centre
Borgarnes
The newly founded Settlement Centre,
initiated by tycoon Olafur Olafsson,
has become quite a hit. In its two exhi-
bitions it explores the Icelandic Sagas
and follows the life of Egill Skallagríms-
son, the first Icelandic poet. You can
also view two theatre productions
about Egil’s life and enjoy the fine res-
taurant there.
The Icelandic History of Music
Bíldudal
This remote town in Northern Iceland
may not have much to offer at first, but
surprisingly it has the only established
music museum in Iceland. If you’re
passing by you might as well as check
out Iceland’s music history, with dis-
plays dating from the settlement era of
music of uncanny string instrumentals
all the way to modern of pop music.
Museum Round Trip
A selection of museums outside Reykjavík
muSeum of Skógar
NATURE IS THE ADVENTURE!
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