Discover South Iceland
Glaciers – Geysirs – Volcanoes – Mountains – Waterfalls

Towns : Hvolsvöllur

Hvolsvöllur (pop. 800+) is one of the three main service centers in South Iceland, and a convenient base for excursions to some of the notable historical and natural sights in the region, such as Njála Country and Thórsmörk woods. The town is located in a fertile region amid pleasant surroundings with the snow-capped Mount Hekla, the mountain Thrihyrningur, the glaciers Tindfjallajökull, Eyjafjalljökull & Myrdalsjökull and The Westman Islands all rearing above the horizon. It is a young community whose development began in 1930 when a large cooperative store was opened there. Today it serves a large farming area in the Rangárvellir district and there is also a large meatpacking process plant here. The main occupation is farming & related industries + service & tourism. There has been quite a large influx of foreign workers (mostly from Poland) to the region during recent years - creating a vibrant, small Polish community in Hvolsvöllur.

Hlidarendi and Fljotshlid are two known historical sites in the area. Hlidarendi is a farm and a church site in the Fljotshlid County. Catholic churches there were dedicated to St. Thorlakur the bishop at Skalholt (1133-1193). The church was abolished and the parish united with the Teigur Parish in 1802. In 1896 the churches at Teigur and Eyvindarmuli were abolished and the parishes united with a church at Hlidarendi. The present wooden church was built in 1897. It is protected with corrugated iron and seats 180 people.

The first settler of the Fljotshlid Area was Baugur Raudsson who lived at Hlidarendi. His grandson was Gunnar Hamundarson, the most important personality of the Njal’s Saga. To the northeast of the present farmhouses is rather a large mound, which is called Gunnarshaugur. According to the local legend, Gunnar was buried there. Near the church and the farmhouses are ruins of an ancient farm, which is said to be Gunnar’s farm.

The town has good facilities for travelers in all seasons. Available services include a super market, hotel, bus terminal, 2 petrol stations, campsite, restaurants, a swimming pool, pharmacy, medical center, police station, taxi, golf course, bank, post office, salmon and trout fishing and horse rental agencies. It is also the center of the Njála Saga Museum, well worth a visit. There is a regular air link to the Westman Islands by small planes at nearby Bakki Airport, flying time approx. 6 minutes. The nearby Eystri-Rangá River produced the highest amount of rod-caught salmon in Iceland 2004 (over 3.000 fish) + 2005 (over 4.100 fish reported).

More about the story of Burning Njall

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