Grafarkirkja

A simplistic structure carved out of wood, the Grafarkirkja is the oldest Christian church in Iceland. This utterly small turf church stands amid vast fields near Hofsós, swaddled in heaps of untamed moss. Originally built in the 17th Century by one of the best wood-work artists of the time, Guðmundur Guðmundsson, this church was salvaged from deterioration by the National Museum of Iceland in 1950. The church is also well known for being one of the rare examples of ecclesiastical ornamentation in Iceland. Through the wooden doors that guard its simple frame, one can find traces of delicate Baroque elements and intricate wood carvings. Outside, perched on the church's gable is an ornate weather vane that completes its rustic look.