Eyrarbakki

This blog post explores the little village of Eyrarbakki on the South Coast. 

It has a population of under 600 - similar in size to the village where I live in Norfolk.

This mural is on a building behind the accommodation where I've stayed before. Last time I went I stayed in a nice separate airbnb down the road towards the restaurant where we had our meals, and close to the distinctive church, and Heima museum. This time I stayed in one of the Apartments at the Bakki Hostel. I'd go back there again.

I like the mention of Verslun Guðlaugs Pálssonar - the little store. I've never seen it open but it apparently does open and has been there for decades. It is open during July-August for souvenirs and basics.

I'm familiar with the monument to drowned fishermen. I saw the aurora near there on one visit to Iceland, and they came out again on my recent visit.

The restaurant at the Red House (Rauda Husid) is very good. It's next to the church.

Leaving the town to the North to head for Hveragerdi, you will pass Litla-Hraun prison, the largest maximum-security prison in Iceland, established in 1929

To the west is Thorlakshofn: a port, accessed via a newish bridge.

Via: https://www.funiceland.is/places-to-go/towns-and-villages/eyrarbakki/

Because of its role in fishing and trading throughout the history Eyrarbakki has a great historical importance, for centuries the village was the main trading centre for the southern region. One of the store in the well known Danish-Icelandic Trade Monopoly was located in Eyrarbakki, therefore the village grew in population in the mid 19th century and started importing goods from Denmark. 

In 1920 almost 1000 people lived in the village and the place became the most important trading place in the whole of Iceland.

Even though trade and fishing were the main occupations in the village, the conditions for the harbour were not good. 

If the weather was bad the ships sometimes had to wait out on the sea for days even weeks for the weather to slow down. Around 1925 Eyrarbakki lost its importance as a trading centre when the bridge over Ölfusá to Selfoss was built and transportations moved there. 

After that Eyrarbakki tried to grow into a fishing town but like before the conditions at the harbour stood in their way and later it led to a decrease in population for this small town.

Many of the houses in the village date to the early 20th century.

The oldest house in the town is called Húsið or “The House” and is from the year 1765. The House is the oldest preserved timber dwelling house in Iceland and is now the Heritage Museum of Árnessýsla. It used to be the home of Danish merchants families for almost two centuries and over that period the House was the center for art and European culture in Iceland.