Ingjaldshólskirkja
About Ingjaldshólskirkja
Ingjaldshólskirkja sits alone on a grassy rise just outside Hellissandur, a white church with a red roof that you can spot from far along the coast road. Built of concrete in 1903, Ingjaldshólskirkja is usually described as the oldest concrete church in Iceland, and it's a quick, worthwhile stop at the western tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
The hill has held a church far longer than the current building. Records put one at Ingjaldshóll from 1317, and for centuries it was among the largest churches in the country, serving a big parish and the crowds who came for the fishing seasons. Old cornerstones in the churchyard still hint at its size.
The best-known story here involves Christopher Columbus. Local legend says he spent the winter of 1477 at Ingjaldshóll, and a painting in the church shows him with the local priest. No historical record confirms the visit, so treat it as folklore. The church has also picked up an online nickname as the eye-test church, since many people think it looks like the little building in optometrists' vision machines.
Ingjaldshólskirkja stands beside the road between Hellissandur and Rif, about 1 km from Hellissandur and under three hours' drive from Reykjavík. There's room to park by the churchyard, and 15 to 20 minutes is plenty for photos and a walk around. Pair it with Saxhóll crater or Snæfellsjökull National Park, both a short drive away.
Good to know
When was Ingjaldshólskirkja built?
The current church was built in 1903 and is usually described as the oldest concrete church in Iceland. A church has stood on the site since at least 1317.
Did Christopher Columbus visit Ingjaldshóll?
Local legend says he spent the winter of 1477 there, and a painting in the church shows him with the priest. No historical source confirms the visit.
Why is it called the eye-test church?
People online say it resembles the small building shown inside optometrists' eye-test machines. No manufacturer has confirmed that it is the same church.
Where is Ingjaldshólskirkja?
On a low hill beside the road between Hellissandur and Rif, at the western end of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland. It is under three hours' drive from Reykjavík.
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