Kirkjubæjarklaustur, often called Klaustur is a village in South Iceland. With a population of around 160, it is the closest thing to an urban area within a vast municipality called Skaftárhreppur, and it's the only proper service centre on the almost 300km stretch of the ring road between Vík and Höfn.
Kirkjubæjarklaustur is named after an convent which stood there in Catholic times. Many of the local toponyms are related to nuns, usually referring to sisters, or to the convent itself (klaustur, in Icelandic). In recent centuries, the region has been shaped by catastrophic geological events, including the eruption in nearby Lakagígar (also known as Laki) in 1783-1784 which killed around 25% of the Icelandic population. In more recent years, eruptions under Vatnajökull glacier and the resulting floods have also played a role. However, all this activity also means that the landscape is stunning and often extreme in its beauty and the immediate vicinity of the village is a prosperous agricultural area.
Orienting yourself in Kirkjubæjarklaustur is very simple. Klausturvegur is the road that runs through most of the village, with smaller streets branching out from it.
The village itself does not have many sights of interest. The local church is interesting for its modern architecture and to learn about the history of the 18th century priest Jón Steingrímsson who, according to legend, saved the area from devastation in the massive Skaftáreldar eruption of 1783. The graceful waterfall Systrafoss (Sister falls) overlooks the village, flowing from a lake on top of the small mountain. A climb to the top offers some great views.
- Kirkjubæjarstofa, Klausturvegur 2, +354 487 4645. A small research centre, which also houses an exhibition space. Check the website to see if there's anything on.
Kirkjubæjarstofa, Klausturvegur 2, +354 487 4645. A small research centre, which also houses an exhibition space. Check the website to see if there's anything on.
- Kirkjubæjarklaustur sports centre, Klausturvegur 4 (drive all the way through town, past the church and the hotel, turn left down the hill after the school, +354 487 4756. Like all Icelandic towns and villages, Kirkjubæjarklaustur has a swimming pool with hot pots. 400 kr.
- Climb Systrastapi, a large cliff just west of the village. It is a difficult climb, straight up the vertical face of the cliff, but there are ropes and chains in place to hold on to. Two nuns are said to be buried on top of the cliff.
Kirkjubæjarklaustur sports centre, Klausturvegur 4 (drive all the way through town, past the church and the hotel, turn left down the hill after the school, +354 487 4756. Like all Icelandic towns and villages, Kirkjubæjarklaustur has a swimming pool with hot pots. 400 kr.
Climb Systrastapi, a large cliff just west of the village. It is a difficult climb, straight up the vertical face of the cliff, but there are ropes and chains in place to hold on to. Two nuns are said to be buried on top of the cliff.
There isn't much to be bought in Kirkjubæjarklaustur and apart from the supermarket (mentioned below) there are few stores.
Given its size, it should come as no surprise that the dining options are relatively limited in Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The only supermarket, Kjarval, is found on Klausturvegur 13. Look out for locally-produced arctic char marketed under the name Klausturbleikja.
- Skaftárskáli, +354 487 4628. 9am-8pm. A gas station by the ring road with a small fast food restaurant. Burgers, hot dogs and the like. 1000-1500 kr.
- Systrakaffi, Klausturvegur 12, +354 487 4848. A nice, small restaurant/café/bar with a mix of traditional and local food, and the classic international features of pizzas, pastas and burgers. A surprisingly ambitious restaurant, given the size of the village. 1500-2500 kr.
Skaftárskáli, +354 487 4628. 9am-8pm. A gas station by the ring road with a small fast food restaurant. Burgers, hot dogs and the like. 1000-1500 kr.
Systrakaffi, Klausturvegur 12, +354 487 4848. A nice, small restaurant/café/bar with a mix of traditional and local food, and the classic international features of pizzas, pastas and burgers. A surprisingly ambitious restaurant, given the size of the village. 1500-2500 kr.
There is good mobile phone coverage in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, but it can get worse in some of the nearby valleys and up on the highlands.
The main reason to visit Kirkjubæjarklaustur is to explore the surrounding landscapes:
- Kirkjugólf (literally: Church Floor) is an interesting rock formation to the east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, flat basalt columns that look almost like a man made floor.
- Langisjór (literally: Long Sea) is a long and narrow lake in the highlands to the north of the village, one of the largest lakes in Iceland.
- Skaftárhraun, a huge lava field to the west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, can be compared to a desert. Despite being covered by moss, most of it is uninhabitable following an eruption in the 18th century.
- Vatnajökull National Park is nearby. Kirkjubæjarklaustur is an ideal base for exploring its western part which includes the row of volcanic craters called Lakagígar, responsible for one of the most devastating events in Icelandic history.
Kirkjugólf (literally: Church Floor) is an interesting rock formation to the east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, flat basalt columns that look almost like a man made floor.
Langisjór (literally: Long Sea) is a long and narrow lake in the highlands to the north of the village, one of the largest lakes in Iceland.
Skaftárhraun, a huge lava field to the west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, can be compared to a desert. Despite being covered by moss, most of it is uninhabitable following an eruption in the 18th century.
[[Vatnajökull National Park]] is nearby. Kirkjubæjarklaustur is an ideal base for exploring its western part which includes the row of volcanic craters called Lakagígar, responsible for one of the most devastating events in Icelandic history.