Hallgrimskirkja and the basalt form of Reykjavik
Published on 08/31/2026 at 14:45 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik rises as a tall concrete church with a stepped front and a tower that dominates the city centre. Its form links the building to Guðjón Samúelsson, Hallgrímur Pétursson and Iceland’s national church tradition.
Stepped concrete above Reykjavik
Hallgrimskirkja is the largest church in Iceland and a landmark in the capital’s centre. The tower reaches 73 metres, and the church stands on Hallgrímstorg above Skólavörðuholt, with the city spreading below it.
The exterior is built from pale concrete and shaped into a vertical composition of buttressed forms and a central tower. The front reads almost like a stone colonnade in abstract form, with the massing tapering upwards in a sequence of blocks and planes.
Guðjón Samúelsson and the long building history
The church was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, Iceland’s State Architect, who began work on it in 1937. Building work started in 1945, the first completed stage was consecrated in 1948, and the church itself was consecrated on 26 October 1986.
Hallgrimskirkja is a memorial church for Hallgrímur Pétursson, the hymn poet whose name it carries. The building belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the parish history places it among Samúelsson’s major Reykjavík works, alongside the University of Iceland and the National Theatre.
Art, music and the interior fabric
The church interior combines liturgical use with art, music and memorial detail. The main door, the stained glass above it, the pulpit glass and the baptismal font are works by Leifur Breiðfjörð, while other sculptures and icons by Icelandic artists are placed through the nave and chancel.
Music is central to the building’s character. Hallgrimskirkja contains a large concert organ built by Johannes Klais Organworks in Bonn, and the church’s bells include named great bells and a carillon in the tower belfry.
Visiting Hallgrimskirkja: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Hallgrimskirkja stands in central Reykjavik on Hallgrímstorg, above Skólavörðuholt. Skólavörðustígur leads up towards the church and the square in front of it.
- The tower is 73 metres high and the church rises in a steep, vertical mass. The building’s exterior is concrete, and the approach across the square brings the full height into view.
- The church is an active parish church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Its interior contains sculpture, stained glass and a major organ.
- The square in front of the church includes the statue of Leifur Eiríksson, a separate landmark on the hill.
Searching for Hallgrimskirkja on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Hallgrimskirkja
Where is Hallgrimskirkja?
Hallgrimskirkja stands in central Reykjavik, on Hallgrímstorg above Skólavörðuholt. The church is a prominent point in the city’s core.
What does a visit include?
The church combines parish functions, art and music. Visitors encounter the tower, the nave, stained glass, sculpture and the large concert organ.
What makes Hallgrimskirkja distinctive?
Its stepped concrete exterior and tall tower give it a strong silhouette. The building is also closely tied to Guðjón Samúelsson and Hallgrímur Pétursson.
