Stöng Viking

South

When Hekla erupted in 1104, it buried at least 22 farms in the Þjórsárdalur valley under volcanic ash. One of them, Stöng, stayed hidden for over 800 years until archaeologists excavated it in 1939 — the first professionally conducted dig on Icelandic ruins. What they uncovered was a well-preserved longhouse floor plan belonging to a prosperous Commonwealth-era farm. The original ruins, now protected under a shelter building about 4 kilometers away, can be viewed via a raised walkway; the central hearth and sleeping platforms are clearly legible in the foundations. The reconstruction, Þjóðveldisbærinn, was built between 1974 and 1977 to mark the 1,100th anniversary of Icelandic settlement. It recreates the longhouse, outbuildings, and a turf church using traditional materials and methods. Inside, visitors can handle period tools, try on historical clothing, and use a weaving loom. The atmosphere is hands-on in a way that museum display cases rarely manage. A separate replica church was added and consecrated in 2000. Þjóðveldisbærinn is open daily from May 1 to October 15, 10:00–17:30; adult admission is 2,500 ISK. The site is roughly 120 kilometers east of Reykjavík, and the surrounding Þjórsárdalur valley rewards the drive — Gjáin's mossy gorge and Háifoss waterfall are both within a short distance.

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