Iceland's historical sod dwellings

Checking Out Those Charming Turf Homes in Iceland!

A peek into Iceland's photo gallery unveils adorable turf homes that'll catch your eye. With the country scarce on trees, building with turf was a popular choice, and thick turf walls were lifesavers against the cold. These cozy dwellings were once common in Iceland, however, their maintenance-heavy nature resulted in few of them standing tall today.

Though turf homes may seem like remnants of the past, they're not as ancient as you might think. As recently as 1910, half of Iceland's population resided in these homes. As Reykjavik expanded and turf house living spaces became limited, the numbers dwindled. By 1960, there were just 234 inhabited turf homes left in Iceland, with most of them deserted in the subsequent decade.

Most of the remaining turf houses belong to the Þjóðminjasafn Íslands - the National Museum of Iceland, harboring the National Museum's Historic Buildings Collection at Árbæjarsafn in Reykjavik.

Luckily, some turf houses remain well-preserved across Iceland, often repurposed as museums. These let visitors take a trip back in time and learn about Iceland's recent past. One notable example is the turf farm that was built for the film Paradisarheimt, now part of a film set (pictured).

For those curious about remarkable, well-preserved turf houses in Iceland, here are some must-visit locations:

Glaumbær Turf Farm: Settled in northwest Iceland, this farmstead consisting of 13 interconnected buildings built from turf and stone offers insights into early Icelandic architecture and living conditions.
Austur-Meðalholt Turf House: Found near Flúðir, this turf house offers a look into rural Icelandic lifestyle. It's an active living history site, with locals providing guided tours and demonstrations of traditional practices.
Laufás Turf Houses: Located in Eyjafjörður, this open-air museum showcases several well-preserved turf houses. Visitors can explore these historic structures from mid-May to early October.
Byggðasafn Árnesinga - The Árnesinga Heritage Museum: Though not exclusively turf houses, this museum in Eyrarbakki presents historical Icelandic buildings, providing a deeper understanding of the region's cultural heritage.

These marvelous, sustainable dwellings of Iceland's past continue to inspire and educate, worthy of reflection on their remarkable history and the resilience of the Icelandic people.

The turf homes in Iceland, once home to half the population as recently as 1910, are now mostly preserved in the National Museum of Iceland's Historic Buildings Collection at Árbæjarsafn in Reykjavik. Despite their dwindling numbers due to scarcity of space in expanding Reykjavik, some turf houses remain well-preserved across Iceland, providing a glimpse into the country's recent past.

Noteworthy examples include the Glaumbær Turf Farm in northwest Iceland, the Austur-Meðalholt Turf House near Flúðir offering rural lifestyle insights, the open-air Laufás Turf Houses in Eyjafjörður, and the Árnesinga Heritage Museum in Eyrarbakki, showcasing historical Icelandic buildings to deepen understanding of the region's cultural heritage.

These preserved turf houses serve as testament to the remarkable history and resilience of the Icelandic people.