Atlantica - 01.11.2000, Side 57

A T L A N T I C A 55
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i-site ❍
At first sight Reykjavík seems determinedly modern, its 20th century
skyline giving little hint of Iceland’s 1,100-year heritage. Step inside
the Culture House, however, and this impression of modernity
quickly recedes. The building itself is one of Iceland’s chief national
treasures; its noble white facade has graced Hverfisgata since 1908
and until recently housed the National Library and Archives. Today,
however, it has a new role as a centre for Icelandic culture, both
ancient and modern.
Entering the elegant marble-floored hall, you are drawn into a
lively celebration of “One Thousand Years of Christianity”, told in
words, pictures, recordings and
arresting tableaux, such as the
life-sized figure of the last
Catholic bishop kneeling before
the executioner’s block. Under
the sloping roof on the fourth
floor, another millennial exhibi-
tion traces the dramatic events
surrounding the Viking voy-
ages to the New World. From a
graphic representation of the
pagan Norse world view, to
reconstructed Viking houses,
ships and other artefacts, every
inch of the walls and ceiling is
covered with fascinating snippets of information, steeping the
visitor in the Viking age.
If you still have an appetite for more, drop into the other galleries
on your way down to the ground floor café and shop, with their his-
torical maps, early printed books, coats of arms, money, and the
minutes of the historic 1851 National Convention. VC
The Culture House, Hverfisgata 15, tel. (+354) 545 1400. Exhibitions open
daily 11 a.m.–5 p.m., exhibitions in meeting rooms open to public on
Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Entrance fee: adults ISK 300, concessions ISK 200,
accompanied children free.
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A Taste of Yuletide
Tradition
For a glimpse of a traditional Icelandic Christmas,
the Reykjavík open-air folk museum, Árbæ-
jarsafn, opens its doors to the public on the first
two Sundays in Advent. Visitors can wander
around the picturesque collection of 19th century
houses, watching demonstrations of old-style
Christmas preparations, such as making tallow
and wax candles, cutting out patterns in flat
sheets of laufabraud (lit. “leaf bread”) or seeth-
ing hangikjöt (smoked lamb) in a pot. Needless to
say, guests are welcome to sample these tradi-
tional Icelandic delicacies. At two o’clock a
service is held in the old wooden church and at
three everyone is invited to take part in dancing
around the Christmas tree to the strains of the
museum choir. The quaint figures of some of the
13 mischievous Christmas Lads, with highly
descriptive names like Door-slammer, Curd-gob-
bler, Window-peeper and Pot-scraper, will be
busy poking their noses into everything, to the
delight of visiting children. And what better way
to round off your tour than by tucking into a plate
of pancakes and steaming hot chocolate or coffee
in Dillonshús before dragging your reluctant off-
spring home. VC
Árbæjarsafn Reykjavík Museum, open Sun. 3 and 10
December, 1-5 p.m., tel. (+354) 577 1111.
One Thousand Years
of Culture
A millennial exhibition traces the
dramatic events surrounding the Viking
voyages to the New World.
[ IDEAS OF INTEREST IN ICELAND ]
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