Helgafell

Church with cemetery on Helgafell

The Helgafell is a hill of 73 meters and is situated in the west of Iceland on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It is located about 4 kilometers south of the town Stykkishólmur in the municipality of Helgafellssveit.

Name

History

Þórólfur Mostraskegg, the first settlers in the area, built on the hill a temple of Thor ( Þór ) was consecrated. Later let Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir, build the main character of the saga Laxdæla, a monastery on the mountain, where she remained until her death. Ruin remains are still visible. Guðrún is buried in the nearby church.

Superstition

Popular belief holds that one has three wishes if you climb the Helgafell for the first time, where you have to go up from the grave of Guðrún from. In this case, one should not turn around, do not talk and talk to anyone about the wishes.