Dómkirkjan í Reykjavík — the Reykjavik Cathedral — is Iceland's national Lutheran cathedral and, unlike Hallgrímskirkja (which is more famous as a landmark), is the church most Icelanders still consider the spiritual heart of the capital. The small, white-walled Neoclassical building was completed in 1796 on Austurvöllur square beside the parliament, and has been the venue for every significant state religious ceremony since — coronations, state funerals, and the annual opening of the Alþingi (when all 63 MPs process from parliament across the square to the cathedral for a service).
The cathedral is intimate inside — seats 300 — with a simple white interior punctuated by a baptismal font designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen (the Danish-Icelandic sculptor Iceland considers its own). The cathedral is open to visitors for a quiet visit when no service is in progress.
Verified Facts
The cathedral was completed in 1796
It is Iceland's national Lutheran cathedral
The baptismal font was designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen
The cathedral seats 300
Get walking directions
Austurvöllur, Reykjavik
