Norska Husid

Stykkisholmur is one of those small Icelandic towns that rewards travellers who slow down. Perched on a peninsula jutting into Breidafjordur bay on the northern coast of Snaefellsnes, it is compact, picturesque, and home to one of the most charming historic buildings in West Iceland: Norska Husid, the Norwegian House.

The Building

Built in 1832 by Arni Thorlacius, a Danish-Icelandic trader and amateur astronomer, Norska Husid is one of the oldest timber buildings in Iceland. The wood was imported from Norway -- hence the name -- at a time when timber was a luxury in a treeless country. The building served as Thorlacius's home and trading post, and stepping inside is like stepping back into the nineteenth century.

The museum on the upper floors preserves the house as Thorlacius knew it: period furniture, personal effects, and the quiet dignity of a well-appointed Icelandic home from an era when comfort was hard-won. It is a small museum, but it tells its story well.

The Cafe

The ground floor houses a modest cafe that serves the essential requirements of a museum visit: good coffee, homemade cakes, and a place to sit and absorb what you have just seen. The offerings are simple -- this is not a restaurant -- but the quality of the baking is surprisingly good, and the setting elevates even a humble cup of coffee into something memorable.

Sitting in a building that has stood for nearly two centuries, looking out at the harbour where trading ships once moored, drinking coffee in a room heated by the same kind of stove that Thorlacius himself would have used -- there is a particular pleasure in that kind of continuity.

The Town

Stykkisholmur itself is worth your time. The harbour is photogenic, the views across Breidafjordur bay are stunning, and the town has a quiet, unhurried character that provides a welcome contrast to Reykjavik's busier energy. If you are driving the Snaefellsnes peninsula -- and you should -- Stykkisholmur makes an excellent base or a mandatory stop.

Practical Notes

Norska Husid is at Hafnargata 5, on the main street through town. Hours may vary seasonally, with reduced opening in winter. A small admission fee covers the museum; the cafe can be visited independently. The town is approximately two hours' drive from Reykjavik via Route 54.