Eiðar: Church, Eiðavatn and school history

Eiðar offers several reasons to explore the place: Eiðakirkja represents its architectural and church history, the former school its educational history, and there is a disc golf course at Eiðavatn. Together, these themes paint a picture of Eiðar that combines historical interests with a specific experience by the lake. When planning your holiday, you can first consider whether you would like to focus mainly on architectural and educational history or on an outdoor activity.

Finding your way around Eiðavatn

Kirkjumiðstöð Austurlands is on the eastern shore of Eiðavatn, a little north of Eiðar’s main group of buildings. This makes it a prominent landmark for orientation by the lake. Its buildings are all on one level and are easily accessible inside, for example for wheelchair users. If accessibility is important to your plans, it is best to confirm the current arrangements before you travel.

Eiðakirkja and the history of the place

Eiðakirkja is a wooden church with a bell portal on the western gable. The church building is 10.11 metres long and 6.05 metres wide; the bell portal is listed as 1.51 metres long and 1.93 metres wide. These measurements describe the building and the portal separately, making specific architectural features of the church tangible.

The church is first mentioned in Bishop Páll Jónsson’s church register from 1197. This date marks its first mention, not a stated construction year. Eiðar itself is also first mentioned in Droplaugarsona saga; the saga’s events are believed to take place around the turn of the second millennium. These are two distinct historical reference points: a dated entry about the church and a cautiously estimated period for the saga’s events.

In earlier times, Eiðar was a large farm, a chieftain’s seat and a church site. These historical roles provide a broader context for the history of the place alongside the story of the church building and the later school.

The school in Eiðar

The years 1917, 1918 and 1995 are important reference points in the history of education. In 1917, it was decided to make Eiðaskóli the Alþýðuskóli for Austurland. In 1918, the school in Eiðar was converted into the regional school Alþýðuskólinn á Eiðum; it continued until 1995. The 1917 decision and the 1918 conversion were two separate steps. The school was the first of its kind in Iceland to be established by law, publicly owned and operated with public funds. Its history also connects Eiðar with the educational history of Austurland.

Disc golf course and summer camp

There is a nine-hole disc golf course on the shore of Eiðavatn, established in the summer of 2018. The course offers a different way to experience Eiðar from its historical attractions: here, the focus is on an activity by the lake. Its nine holes and lakeside location give the offering a clear connection to the place.

In addition, the National Church of Iceland has held summer camps in Eiðar every summer since 1968. The camp programme includes outdoor activities and boat trips on the lake. These activities are part of a programme for children and young people, not a leisure activity open to all travellers. The summer camp tradition is therefore a distinct part of Eiðar’s history and should not be confused with the disc golf course or a general visitor programme.

Eiðar as a place to stay

When choosing accommodation, it helps to distinguish between the place’s different attractions. If you are mainly interested in church and school history, Eiðakirkja and the history of Alþýðuskólinn are the main highlights. If you would like to include an activity by the lake, the disc golf course offers a different reason to visit. This can help you decide whether Eiðar suits the kind of holiday you are looking for and search specifically for a holiday apartment in Eiðar.

Discover more destinations: Höfn Í Hornafirði, Stöðvarfjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Vallanes, Hoffell, Hámundarstaðir, Bjarnanes, Brekka.

For the broader travel overview: Austurland.