Laufskálavarða

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Along the ring road between Vík í Mýrdal and the next larger town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, in the middle of the deserted landscape covered in lava stones and moss, lies Laufskálavarða – a place where „stone men“ are now erected by people from all over the world due to its tragic history.

The trail of history

According to tradition, a long time ago there was a magnificent manor house on the site, which „with 24 doors“ was extraordinarily large for the time. In 894, the Katla volcano, located a little north under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, erupted and destroyed the manor house.

The manor house and the tragic fate of its residents are still remembered today by the Laufskálavarða lava field named after it and the many cairns built by people from all over the world, which, according to legend, are supposed to bring good luck for onward travel.

Useful information

Katla is still one of the most active volcanoes in Iceland today and erupts on average twice a century, which is why countless other lava fields can be found around Laufskálavarða.

To protect the very sensitive nature of Iceland, it is usually not permitted to build cairns or enter the lava fields, which are covered with very slow-growing moss. It is usually also very dangerous as there can be caves under the rock and therefore safe entry cannot be guaranteed. At this point, however, the state highway department supports the tradition and allows visitors to safely enter the lava field and build cairns. This means that every visitor who enters the Laufskálavarða for the first time can build a cairn and thus ensure good luck for their further journey.

How to get there?

Laufskálavarða is located where road 209 from Hrifunes meets the ring road. It is not possible to travel by public transport, but there is a sufficiently large parking space available for those arriving with their own vehicle. Toilets and seating are also available.

Conclusion:

Laufskálavarða is located right on the ring road, which is why anyone who goes around the island can easily visit this important place in the country’s history. The lava field and the deserted surrounding area with the Katla volcano hidden under the glacier in the background are definitely worth seeing. In our opinion, you should definitely see a lava field when visiting Iceland and since there are many more on the island, a detour to Laufskálavarða is not absolutely necessary.