- Address: Túngata 13, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland;
- Opening: July 23, 1929;
- Phone: +354 552 5388;
- Architectural style: Renaissance;
- Architect: Goodyoung Samuelsson.
Tourists who find themselves in the capital of Iceland Reykjavik certainly want to get acquainted with the sights located here. One of the greatest architectural monuments deserving the closest attention is the church of Landakotskirkia or the Cathedral of Christ the King.
History of Landakotskirkia
The church of Landakotskirkja is located in the western part of Iceland. It is considered a unique cathedral of the diocese of this country.
The origin of the church is due to the first Catholic priests from France Jean-Baptiste Baudouin and Bernard Bernard. They arrived in Iceland during the Reformation, bought a piece of land and began to live on the farm. In 1864, these priests, having French roots, built a chapel. A few years later a small wooden church was erected near their house.
The rumor about these legendary Frenchmen arose only after the end of the First World War. At this moment, the growing Catholic community, there is an acute need for its own church. Therefore, it was decided to build a church that has a neo-Gothic style. The construction was completed in 1929, the temple at that time became known as the largest in Iceland. The peculiarity of the building was that concrete was used as a material, which was not typical for Gothic-style buildings. The ceremony of consecration of the church was conducted by Cardinal and Pope Pius XI's envoy William Baths Rossum.
Church of Landakotskirkja - description of the building
The church of Landakotskirkja contains many modern elements in its architecture. When building a building, geometric proportions are clearly observed. A distinctive feature of the temple is that instead of the standard spiers the tower is made with a unique flat top.
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The interior of the church is made in the Gothic style, which was originally conceived during its construction. The floor is decorated with incredibly beautiful tiles, and inside the temple are built numerous arches. This contributes to the fact that, being inside the building, an inexpressible sensation of flight is created.
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The church of Landakotskircja in Iceland is also noteworthy for the fact that inside it there are unique statues: Saint Torlak, the patron saint of this country, and the Holy Virgin Mary.
How to get to the church?
The church of Landakotskirkja is located at: Old West Side, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland . A characteristic feature of its location is that it rises on the hill of Landakots.
If you travel around the city by bus, then you should drive to the Ráðhúsið stop.