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Hofsós - Hólar
The small town of Hofsós is one of the oldest trading places of Iceland dating back into the 15th century. A sharp bend in the coastline and the river mouth provide shelter for the small harbour. Around the harbour lie a couple of historic buildings with Pakkhúsið being one of the oldest of Iceland (now used as museum). Between 1870 and 1910 the town played a role in the great emigration wave when an estimated 20% of Iceland’s population crossed the Atlantic in search of a less harsh life. One of the museums focuses on this particular issue.
From the harbour you can make boat excursions to the bird island Drangey in the middle of the fjord.
Not far away from town lies a peat church called Gröf (Grafarkirkja) which is worth a quick stop. That tiny church has been built around 1670 in the traditional way using what was available of materials and what would withstand the rough climate best. It was part of the Gröf farm which used to be one of the largest farms in the whole area. Its situation in front of the mighty mountains building the inland of the Tröllaskagi peninsula offers a great panorama.
A bit further inland lies Hólar, a small town with barely 100 inhabitants but of greater historic importance as it had become Iceland’s second bishop´s see in 1106 and lasted almost 700 years. Nowadays it hosts a technical college for horse and fish breeding and tourism. The church built in the 18th century is quite nice, but the real attraction of this town is based – like so often on this island – on the amazing landscape it sits in.
Check this gallery for more impressions
Related stories: Iceland Saga, episode 12, Northbound
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