The west coast of Iceland is rich with history and interesting sights to explore. The area isn’t only known for its natural beauty but also for being the setting for many of the old Icelandic sagas. A trip to Borgarfjörður and surrounding area, where parts of one of the most famous sagas, Egils Saga Skallagrímssonar, takes place, should be an ideal route to take for those interested in Viking adventures and Icelandic history.
The scenic landscape increases the pleasure of the whole experience when driving from Reykjavík towards Borgarfjörður and all the way to Borg á Mýrum, the former home of Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson, father of Egill Skallagrímsson. Skallagrímur was the first settler at Borg and claimed the whole Borgarfjörður district. Snorri Sturluson – a writer, historian and politician who many believe was the author of Egils Saga – lived at Borg for a couple of years in the beginning of the 12th century.
Egill himself, born in 910, settled at Borg for a short period of time. Since early childhood he was a brutal, rebellious berserk. According to the legend, he killed his first enemy at the age of seven and later became one of the country’s greatest Vikings. But Egill was also a renowned poet and in front of the small wooden church at Borg stands a large sculpture named Sonatorrek (Loss of Sons) made by Ásmundur Sveinsson. This monument is inspired by the famous poem that Egill wrote upon learning that his second son had drowned. Today, Borg á Mýrum is a parsonage with a small cemetery and a church, constructed in 1880.
Car provided by Hertz.
Tel: 522-4400