Cultural
Álfaborg
Region: East IcelandCoordinates: 65.5466° N, 13.8382° W
Álfaborg is a rocky knoll on the edge of the village of Bakkagerði in Borgarfjörður eystri, East Iceland, with an easy trail to a viewpoint over the encircling mountains. In folklore it is the home of Iceland's elf queen, giving the surrounding area its reputation as an elf city.
Plan the stop
- Who it suits
- All ages
- All ages; a short, gentle walk up a small hill suitable for families.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · Limited
- The knoll is climbed by a short natural path with uneven ground.
- Limited mobility · Limited
- A short but slightly uphill walk on an unpaved path to the top.
- Sensory · Full
- A quiet, open hillside with village and mountain views.
- Cognitive · Full
- A simple short walk with a clear path.
Why it matters
The hill is one of Iceland's most famous sites in hidden-people folklore. The nearby Bakkagerði church holds an altarpiece by the painter Jóhannes Kjarval that depicts the Sermon on the Mount set on Álfaborg itself, with the local mountains in the background.