Viðey

About Viðey

Viðey occupies a cherished place in the hearts of Reykjavík residents and has long been a center of culture, nature, and outdoor recreation. The history of settlement in Viðey can be traced back to the commonwealth age, with Viðey being an important stronghold for many centuries. Since Reykjavík City received the Viðey House and Viðey Church as a gift, the island has become a popular destination for both Reykjavík residents and tourists. A variety of services for visitors of all ages is available throughout the year.

Guided tours can be ordered for public groups by emailing videy@reykjavik.is. School groups can arrange for a free tour by sending an email to safnfraedsla@reykjavik.is.

For more information on events and other museum activities, visit borgarsogusafn.is/en.

Viðey falls under the Reykjavík City Museum: One museum across five great locations.

Basic information

Size: 1.6 km²

Transportation:

• The Viðey ferry operates daily from Skarfabakki during the summer, with only weekend service in winter. You can find the ferry schedule here.
• There are parking spaces at Skarfabakki.
• Public bus stop: Klettagarðar/Skarfagarðar.

Features: Restaurant – Café - Historical site – Hiking trails – Viewpoint – Bird-watching – Landmarks – Remarkable buildings - Artworks – Art exhibition - Playground – Educational events – Festivals - Benches – Barbecue area – Toilets.

Landscape and geology

Viðey is the largest island in Kollafjörður Bay and defines the area. The island spans roughly 1.6 km2 and is about 3 km long at its widest point. Viðey is divided into two parts: Vesturey in the north and Heimaey in the south, connected by a narrow isthmus. The highest points are Heljarkinn and Sjónarhóll on Heimaey, about 32 meters above sea level.

In Viðey, effects of an old central volcano associated with the island can be seen. The volcano was active about 2 – 3 million years ago and the ash rim traces from Heimaey's southern side to Sundagarður. Features include tuff, basalt, and beautifully articulated injections, especially noticeable in Eiðisbjarg. The north of Heimaey and Vesturey is covered by Reykjavík gray rock, which dates back around 200,000 years. Around 12-13,000 years ago at the end of the Ice Age, Viðey was completely submerged underwater. You can see signs of a higher sea level on the westernmost part of Eiði, where you'll find gravel-like shell sand.

Flora and wildlife

Viðey is naturally green and abundant. Grasslands and well-vegetated meadows are the most common habitats on the island. Wetlands have largely been drained and converted to pastures and hay meadows between 1930 and 1940, but most areas previously cut for drainage are now green and the original wetland conditions are being restored in many places. Common marshland species include lyngbye's sedge, smooth black sedge, marsh-marigold, and marsh cinquefoil. A variety of vibrant coastal plants can be found throughout the island, particularly near Eiðið, where species like longfoot orach, sea-rocket, mayweed, and sea lungwort form beautiful pastures. Scottish licoriceroot is also present on the island. Caraway is uncommonly common on the island. It was brought there for cultivation but has now spread along paths and is popular with foodies who come to Viðey in early fall to pick caraway seeds.

Bird life is incredibly diverse on Viðey as the expansive and peaceful island provides a host of habitats. Eider nest throughout the island and their population has increased in recent years. Other common nesting species include the fulmar, greylag goose, common snipe, sandpiper, and oystercatcher. Many other bird species are regular visitors and nest here periodically, including the Arctic tern, various seagulls, raven, starling, and other sparrows, as well as various duck and shorebird species.

History

Archaeological research suggest that Viðey was inhabited in the 10th century, although the oldest written records are from the 12th century. Þorvaldur Gissurarson bought Viðey in the early 13th century and established Viðey Monastery, which was consecrated in 1226 and long belonged to the Augustinian order. Over time, the monastery became one of the wealthiest in the country, owning over 100 farms. In 1537, a church system was introduced by King Christian of Denmark and the monastery was closed.

In the mid 18th century, Skúli Magnússon, the royal treasurer (I. Landfógeti), spearheaded a significant revival of Viðey as a large farm. He constructed the Viðey House, which was completed in 1755 and is the oldest stone house in Iceland. He also had a stone church built next to the Viðey House, which was consecrated in 1774 and possesses some of the oldest church furnishings in the country. Eggert Ólafsson and Bjarni Pálsson stayed with Skúli Magnússon in Viðey while they were working on their travel book. Skúli revived eiderdown production and conducted experiments with forestry and grain cultivation.

Ólafur Stephensen, prefect, and Magnús Stephensen, chief judge, ran a flourishing farm in Viðey after Skúli. Magnús operated a printing house in Viðey from 1819 to 1844.

In 1909, the so-called Millionaire's Company (I. Milljónafélag) took over the operation of Viðey and built many structures in the eastern part of the island, Sundbakki. There, two piers for large ships, various fish processing houses, and housing for employees were constructed. This area was called Viðey Station and had about 20 buildings. The settlement was completely demolished at the start of World War II, but house foundations and other landmarks can still be seen at Sundbakki.

Farming ceased in Viðey in 1970, but the island's popularity as an outdoor recreation area for Reykjavík residents grew, and a restaurant opened at Áttæringsvör in 1986.

Arts & Culture

In Viðey, you can find magnificent outdoor artworks. The most prominent is Áfangar by American sculptor Richard Serra. This artwork consists of nine pairs of columns made of basalt standing scattered around Vesturey. The artwork was installed in 1990.

The Viðey Imagine Peace Tower is a light artwork intended as a beacon for world peace. This tower was designed by famous artist Yoko Ono. The tower is lit on her late husband John Lennon's birthday every year, October 9, and stays lit until December 8, Lennon's anniversary of death. The tower is also lit during Christmas, New Year's Eve, on Yoko Ono's birthday February 18, and on spring equinox. The artwork was inaugurated on October 9, 2007.

References

• Haukur Jóhannesson, Kristbjörn Egilsson, and Ævar Petersen. 1988. Natural Assets of Viðey. Report prepared by The Icelandic Institute of Natural History for Reykjavík City.
• Páll Líndal. 1988. Historic Site near Sund - Volume 3 R-Ö. Örn and Örlygur, Reykjavík.