Dómkirkjan í Reykjavík
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About Dómkirkjan í Reykjavík
Reykjavík Cathedral (Dómkirkjan) is a small white Lutheran cathedral on the south side of Austurvöllur square in downtown Reykjavík, right next to the Parliament House. It was the city's main church long before Hallgrímskirkja rose over the skyline, and each new session of the Alþingi still begins here.
Work on the building started in 1787, and it was consecrated in 1796 to a neoclassical design by the Danish architect Andreas Kirkerup. It went up after the bishop's seat moved from Skálholt to Reykjavík, which is why a small trading town got a cathedral. Between 1847 and 1848 it was enlarged to plans by Winstrup, giving it the shape you see today, and it was restored in 1999 and 2000.
Inside, Dómkirkjan is plain and full of light, with wooden galleries around the nave. Look for the baptismal font by the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, a Dane of Icelandic descent, and the altarpiece painted in 1847 by the Danish artist Wegener. Because the building is small, 15 to 20 minutes is enough, and it fits easily into a walk past City Hall and Tjörnin pond.
Reykjavík Cathedral is open to visitors on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and no admission fee is listed. It closes to sightseers during funerals, weddings and other events, so check the cathedral's official website on the day if the visit matters to you.
Sunday mass is at 11 a.m. all year. On Tuesday evenings a half-hour Bach concert starts at 8 p.m., which is a calm way to hear the 1985 Schuke organ, and visitors are welcome. During any service, stay seated and skip the photos.
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Good to know
Is Reykjavík Cathedral free to visit?
The cathedral lists no admission fee for visitors during its weekday opening hours.
What are the opening hours of Reykjavík Cathedral?
The cathedral is open to visitors on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It closes to sightseers during funerals, weddings and other events.
When are services held at Dómkirkjan?
Mass is held every Sunday at 11 a.m. all year. There is also a half-hour Bach concert on Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m., open to visitors.
How old is Reykjavík Cathedral?
It was built between 1787 and 1796 to a design by Andreas Kirkerup and enlarged to its present form in 1847 and 1848.
Is Dómkirkjan the same as Hallgrímskirkja?
No. Dómkirkjan is the small, older cathedral on Austurvöllur square, while Hallgrímskirkja is the much larger church on Skólavörðuholt hill, about a 15-minute walk away.
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