Seyðisfjörður

Dieser Artikel ist auch in Deutsch verfügbar.

Seyðisfjörður is a small town in the Austurland region in the east of Iceland. Surrounded by high snow-capped mountains and at the end of the fjord of the same name, the city was once one of the most important and largest in Iceland.

The trail of history

During the last ice age, glaciers formed a deep sea channel now known as Seyðisfjörður. As early as 1848, the Icelanders founded a trading center at the end of this fjord and named it after the fjord. The small village quickly grew into a town-like settlement and the residents benefited from the almost 17 kilometer long protective fjord and the high demand for herrings.

Seyðisfjörður grew larger and larger, became the wealthiest place in the east of Iceland and was finally declared a city in 1895 as the fourth place in Iceland. But the growth continued, this was also due to technical progress, as the city was the first in the country to be connected to the telephone network in 1906. A 615 kilometer long submarine cable for telegraphy was laid from the Scottish Orkney Islands to Seyðisfjörður and the telephone and telegraph lines were subsequently expanded throughout Iceland. In 1913, Iceland’s first hydroelectric power station was built on the edge of Seyðisfjörður and the town was the first in the country to be fully electrified. Since the fjord can also be navigated by large ships and due to its protected location, the fjord was also an important naval base for the Allies during World War II. At its peak, up to 800 soldiers were stationed in the city.

The growth came to an end when the economy in Reykjavik boomed and many residents of eastern Iceland migrated to the southwest. In 1989 almost 1,000 people lived in Seyðisfjörður, today there are less than 700.

Seyðisfjörður is becoming increasingly important today thanks to tourism. Many artists have settled in the city and the rainbow path with the blue church in the background is a popular photo opportunity. It should be mentioned at this point that almost all of the houses, including the blue church „Seyðisfjarðarkirkja“, were built in Norway and were shipped to Iceland as a kit.

Useful information

Seyðisfjörður is primarily explored by visitors arriving by ferry, which is why the town comes to life, especially before the ferry leaves. Evening concerts take place in the blue church in summer and the restaurants invite you to linger. The historic houses are often home to artists who produce Icelandic handicrafts on site and sell them to visitors. You can also visit Iceland’s first hydroelectric power station – it is still in operation today and was expanded to include a museum in 2003. Since the city has played an important role in the modernization of the country, there is also a technology museum in a house built in 1894 by the Norwegian industrialist Otto Wathne.

Although Seyðisfjörður seems rather small, there is everything a visitor needs there (restaurants, supermarket, gas station, overnight accommodation, …) and after about a 30-minute drive along a beautiful pass road, the next larger town, Egilsstaðir, can be reached.

How to get there?

Seyðisfjörður is the starting and ending point for many travelers to Iceland who want to explore the island with their own vehicle. The ferry Norönna runs weekly between Denmark and Iceland – you can find the exact travel times and prices on the homepage of the Faroese shipping company Smyril Line.

All other travelers to Iceland start their journey at the airport in Keflavík, near the capital Reykjavík. Without a rental car or an organized tour, the journey to Seyðisfjörður will be difficult, as the town is over 600 kilometers away on the other side of the island.

Conclusion:

For many visitors to Iceland, the town of Seyðisfjörður is their first glimpse of the country and it couldn’t be more beautiful. Steep mountain slopes rise high on both sides of the fjord of the same name and colorful houses are reminiscent of times gone by. The city is very small, typical of the country, but definitely worth seeing. Anyone who enjoys little things and appreciates nature will definitely not regret a visit to Seyðisfjörður!