Skip to content

Gljúfrasteinn

Gljúfrasteinn from directly overhead

Gljúfrasteinn is a museum, at a modelled elevation of 146 m. Esja stands 914 m to the north-northwest, 5.0 miles off. The nearest named place is Æsustaðafjall, a peak 1.3 miles away. Ring Road passes 2.9 miles off.

The story

Gljúfrasteinn (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈklju(v)raˌsteitn̥]) is a writer's home museum, which was the former home of Halldór Kiljan Laxness, a 1955 Nobel Prize for Literature winner. It is located in Mosfellsbær, east of Reykjavík, Iceland. The name of the house is derived from a large stone in the vicinity called Gljúfrasteinn, about which Halldór wrote the short story "Steinninn minn helgi" at the age of 19. The house was built in 1945 by Halldór and his wife Auður Sveinsdóttir. The architect was Ágúst Pálsson and the interior designer was Birta Fróðadóttir. Gljúfrasteinn is built on the banks of the river Kaldakvísl and is situated close to Laxness's childhood home, Laxnes. Halldór Laxness was a prominent figure in Icelandic society and his status only increased after he won the Nobel Prize in 1955. Laxness's home became a cultural hub in Iceland where important foreign guests were brought for official as well as unofficial visits. International musicians would frequently give concerts in his living room. Paintings by some of the most celebrated 20th century Icelandic artists adorn the walls of Gljúfrasteinn. Visitors can view works by artists such as Svavar Guðnason, Nína Tryggvadóttir, Louisa Matthíasdóttir, Jóhannes Kjarval, Karl Kvaran, Ásmundur Sveinsson, as well as works by the Danish painter Asger Jorn and the Norwegian painter Jakob Weidemann. In 2002, Laxness's widow, Auður, sold the house to the Icelandic state. In September 2004, it was opened for the public as a museum. Visitors can take a guided tour through the house, and the museum hosts concerts during the summer.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Wikidata Q2312229, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.

What to expect

Fee
Yes

Official site

How to reach it

Coordinates64.18091, -21.58185

Overlooks nearby

Named places within 25 miles

Peaks
  • Æsustaðafjall: 1.3 mi
  • Flatafell: 1.3 mi
  • Mosfell: 1.9 mi
  • Grímmannsfell: 2.1 mi
  • Reykjafell: 2.2 mi
Waterfalls
  • Helgufoss: 1.6 mi
  • Tröllafoss: 2.5 mi
  • Tungufoss: 3.0 mi
  • Álafoss: 3.0 mi
  • Kollafjarðarárfoss: 3.7 mi
Historic sites: 60
Artworks
Attractions: 59
  • Borholuhús: 8.8 mi
  • Dofri: 8.8 mi
  • Heimilisfuglar: 9.2 mi
  • Hestar: 9.2 mi
  • Innsigli: 9.2 mi
Nature reserves: 40
Parks: 38
  • Hallsteinsgarður: 6.8 mi
  • Lottutún: 8.8 mi
  • Kambsvöllur: 8.8 mi
  • Grundargerðisgarður: 9.5 mi
  • Garðaflöt: 9.6 mi
Museums: 38
Cliffs: 33
  • Virkið: 8.5 mi
  • Þórishamar: 9.7 mi
  • Gálgaklettar: 13.2 mi
  • Lambagjá: 14.1 mi
  • Klofningur: 14.1 mi
Springs: 25
  • Mud Pot: 10.9 mi
  • Mud Pot: 10.9 mi
  • Hot spring: 10.9 mi
  • Mud Pot: 11.0 mi
  • Mud Pot: 11.0 mi
Gardens: 5
Picnic sites: 2
  • Hjallaflatir: 11.8 mi
  • Vífilsstaðahlíð: 12.1 mi
Hot springs: 2
Beaches: 2
  • Langisandur: 17.0 mi
  • Þorli: 22.5 mi
Lighthouses: 1

Summits around it

The highest named summits within 10.1 miles of Gljúfrasteinn. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.

SummitBearingElevationDistance
EsjaNNW 333°914 m5.0 mi
HátindurN 352°909 m4.4 mi
KambshornNW 307°851 m6.3 mi
GunnlaugsskarðNNW 330°843 m3.9 mi
ÞverfellshornNW 313°840 m5.3 mi
MóskarðshnjúkarNNE 24°800 m4.8 mi
SkálafellNE 41°774 m5.4 mi
EsjuhornN 5°755 m6.5 mi

When to go

Light through the year

DateSunriseGolden hourSunset
March equinox07:2918:3719:41
June solstice02:5422:0600:04
September equinox07:0918:2719:31
December solstice11:22—15:28

Local time (Atlantic/Reykjavik).

Where this comes from

Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.

OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOfficial site

OpenStreetMap element node/1243688088

More museums in Iceland

Drive to it

Byway plans a real route around stops like this one.

Private beta · Free to join

Take the scenic way to Gljúfrasteinn.

Byway plans around your taste, verified places, real weather and opening hours — then opens every leg in Google Maps with one tap.

Private beta · Free to join · No card · Invite when a spot opens