Landakotskirkja (Landakot's Church), Reykjavik

Landakotskirkja (Landakot's Church), Reykjavik

Landakot's Church (Landakotskirkja) serves as the principal cathedral for the Catholic Church in Iceland. Situated in the western part of Reykjavík, specifically on the Landakot property, this architectural marvel boasts a unique design characterized by a flat roof rather than the conventional spire. The church's creation is attributed to the talented architect Guðjón Samúelsson, renowned for his work on other iconic structures like Hallgrímskirkja and Akureyrarkirkja in Akureyri.

The history of Landakot's Church traces back to the early 19th century when the first Catholic priests arrived in Iceland after the Reformation. Two Frenchmen, Bernard Bernard and Jean-Baptiste Baudoin, purchased the Landakot farmstead in Reykjavík and established their residence there. In 1864, they erected a modest chapel on the premises. Subsequently, a small wooden church was built near Landakot on Túngata a few years later. As the number of Catholics in Iceland grew following the First World War, there emerged a pressing need for a larger church facility.

To meet this demand, Icelandic Catholics made the decision to construct a Neo-Gothic style church, entrusting the architectural work to Guðjón Samúelsson. Following several years of construction efforts, Landakot's Church was formally consecrated on July 23, 1929. It held the distinction of being the largest church in Iceland during that era. Today, Landakot's Church remains an iconic landmark in western Reykjavík. Furthermore, the only Catholic school in Iceland, Landakot's School (Landakotsskóli), is conveniently located nearby on the same property.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Reykjavik. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Landakotskirkja (Landakot's Church) on Map

Sight Name: Landakotskirkja (Landakot's Church)
Sight Location: Reykjavik, Iceland (See walking tours in Reykjavik)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Reykjavik, Iceland

Create Your Own Walk in Reykjavik

Create Your Own Walk in Reykjavik

Creating your own self-guided walk in Reykjavik is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Reykjavik Introduction Walking Tour

Reykjavik Introduction Walking Tour

Reykjavik is the capital city of Iceland. Located close to the Arctic Circle, it is the world's northernmost capital. This charming, eclectic destination is the center of Iceland's economy, culture, and government.

Reykjavík is considered to be Iceland's first settlement. According to ancient texts, Norseman Ingolfr Arnarson was drawn to Reykjavík's natural harbor and...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Reykjavik Historical Buildings Tour

Reykjavik Historical Buildings Tour

Reykjavik, although primarily famous as a base from which to explore the rest of Iceland, is surprisingly full of unique historic locations, many of which are off the beaten path and thus not overrun with tourists. In fact, unless you're accompanied by a historian or knowledgeable local, you can easily walk right past them and not realize their historical importance.

Relatively small in...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles