Grundarfjörður

Grundarfjörður (Icelandic pronunciation: ​[ˈkrʏntarˌfjœrðʏr̥]) is a town in the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the west of Iceland. It is situated between a mountain range and the sea. The nearby mountain Kirkjufell forms a small peninsula.

Grundarfjarðarbær
Municipality
Skyline of Grundarfjarðarbær
Coat of arms
Location of Grundarfjarðarbær
Grundarfjarðarbær
Coordinates: 64°56′N 23°16′W
CountryIceland
RegionWestern Region
ConstituencyNorthwest Constituency
Government
 • MayorBjörg Ágústdóttir
Area
 • Total148 km2 (57 sq mi)
Population
 • Total872
 • Density5.89/km2 (15.3/sq mi)
Postal code(s)
350
Municipal number3709
Websitegrundarfjordur.is
Landscape not far from Grundarfjörður, craters of the Ljósufjöll volcanic system
Kirkjufell Mountain in Snæfellsnes in Iceland

Overview

The town received the right to do commerce in 1786. Around 1800, French merchants came to Iceland and lived in Grundarfjörður, where they constructed a church and a hospital of their own. The town became wealthy through the fishing industry, and this wealth shows in the style of the original, luxurious houses being built.

The road to nearby Stykkishólmur crosses a lava field called Berserkjahraun [ˈpɛr̥sɛr̥caˌr̥œiːn̥]. The name of the lava field comes from the Eyrbyggja saga, according to which two Berserkers were slain here by their master, because one of them fell in love with his master's daughter.

Twin town
  • Paimpol, Brittany. Grundarfjörður and Paimpol in Brittany in northwest France have strong historical connections. Between 1852 and 1935, Breton sailors from Paimpol and the surrounding region sailed to Iceland to catch cod. The connection between the two towns was sealed in a formal friendship and Grundarfjörður has been twinned with the Breton town Paimpol since 2004.[1]

Port and fisheries

Grundarfjörður's harbor is one of the 10 largest quota-fishery harbors in the country with the biggest demersal catch in West Iceland being landed here.

See also

References
  1. "Grundarfjörður Twin Town – Paimpol | Grundarfjörður" (in Icelandic). Grundarfjordur.is. Retrieved 2021-02-05.


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