Viking Village Restaurant - Hafnarfjörður
Story
The Old house
The old house was built in 1841 by the shopkeeper Matthías Jónsson Mathiesen and he built the southern house a year later. Both houses are still standing in their original form in the cluster of houses at the Viking Village and are usually referred to as the Fjaran or Fjörukráin. Over time these old houses have been used for many things , such as a small shop, a department store, general storage, smithy, sailmaking workshop and the first classes in maritime navigation were held there, it served as a horsestable, a barn and a later also as a pharmacy.
During the first part of the last century the Old House was connected to the fishing trawler industry here in Hafnarfjörður that later became a flourishing fishing industry and contributed to the thrift and development of the town.
Over time these old houses have been used for many things , such as a small shop, a department store, general storage, smithy, sailmaking workshop and the first classes in maritime navigation were held there, it served as a horsestable, a barn and a later also as a pharmacy. During the first part of the last century the Old House was connected to the fishing trawler industry here in Hafnarfjörður that later became a flourishing fishing industry and contributed to the thrift and development of the town.
Catch Viking fever and make plans for talented performers to re-enact a classic Viking kidnapping! This organized theatrical event can occur off the bus or -- when you least expect it - anytime and anywhere within the village. Groups love it!
The drama continues as the warriors proudly lead their captives into the newest addition to Viking Village --- The Cave. Inside this authentic cavern bar the atmosphere is sparked by special effects while the captives enjoy their tradiitional drink of "mead" and merry Vikings lead the sing-a-longs. The fun is contagious as the Vikings command your attention telling their very tall tales.
On the 7th of February 1985 the Hafnarfjörður city council voted to have the house demolished after the consent of the building commission. The building commission however sent the matter for consultation to the National Committee of Building Preservation which unanimously voted against the demolition of the house. At that time the city sold the house to Viktor Strange and Harrý Holmgeirsson. They rebuilt it and finished the job in 1986. That same year they opened the restaurant Fjaran with grandeur in the house. In 1990 they sold the company to Jóhannes Viðar Bjarnason who changed the name to Fjörukráin and opened the restaurant on May 10th that same year after a few changes. He introduced many novelties to his clients, that had never been seen in restaurants neither here in Hafnarförður nor elsewhere in the country.
Jóhannes started connecting song and food and held many days and events connected to the various countries. He dressed up his waiters and singers in the national costumes of the respective countries. Among the great events that he held were french days, swiss, austrian, danish, russian, egyptian, faroese and greenlandish days. Often artists came from the respective countries to partake in the events or local talent originating from the above countries were involved. From the above one can see that a great number of foreign artists have visited the Fjörukráin over the years not to mention all the local artists, singers and musicians that have provided enjoyment to the guests in the viking feasts up to this day.
A year later, or on May 10th 1991 the viking feasts started in a tent that was erected just south of Fjörukráin, the Old House. This date, the 10th of May has become a milestone date that is used for the introduction of novelties at the center for each year and the years to come. On this day there have been many great parties given for the friends of the center in order to introduce the changes and new things in our operation. Thus the center has grown step by step, the Fjörukráin which started out with 60 seats now has seats for 500 guests. The facilities now comprise two restaurants standing side by side and the Hotel Viking.
The operation has been developed in stages according to the financial status at each time, step by step. When the tower building was erected not all were happy about that and there was a great debate in the newspapers and elsewhere about it, but the tower was built and has since become one of the main symbols of the skyline of Hafnarfjörður.
Another novelty was also introduced, which was the possibility for people to go on whalewatching and takle fun trips from here and the ship Fjörunesið was purchased for that purpose. Unfortunately we were ahead of our time regarding those types of attractions as the whale watching tours had not become as fashionalble as they are today and the sale of alcohol was banned on board the ship. This business was aboilshed after two tough years of trying. It can be said that the timing was not right for this business from our side. Just a few years later whale watching and fun tours on the ocean had become a thriving and popular business. The Hafnarfjörður steel smithy was later added to our company and it was changed into a hotel called the West Norden Guesthouse. The rooms were decorated with woodcuts and pictures from various historic places from our neighbor countries, Greenland and the Faroes.
Of course icelandic handicrafts were held in great esteem there also. On the first floor of the house was the West Norden Culture house and shop. There were also workshops for handicraft artists who sold their goods there.
As with the boat divison this did not work out financially and the operation was changed into a more lucrative business and the guest house was changed into a hotel and rooms were added. The handicraft shop was changed into the breakfast room for the hotel and a now very popular cave was built into the mount beside the hotel as an extension out from the breakfast room. We now have 42 modern rooms in the hotel with all neccesary amenities. Many things have been tried, some worked out well others not so well which is often the case in business
Several years ago the Fjörukráin was quite active in going abroad and for years we worked at travel promotion in the various cities of Europe. These promotions were mainly done in cooperation with Icelandair and the Iceland Tourist Board and at our own initiative. This proved to be a great way of promotion and most of the tourists who visited this country came to us for the Viking feasts in the Fjörukráin.
The Fjörukráin was the originator of the Viking Festival and at the outset Icelandair was a partner, later the Hafnarfjörður city, Íshestar and other parties joined us. The first three Viking Festivals were held by these partners and the company, Landnám was founded by them in conjunction with the Viking Festivals
Here we have only discussed the main points and much more can be said but that has to be done at a later date and moment. One thing is for sure that since the Old House was built almost 170 years ago the houses here have been houses of action and life and will hopefully reamin so for a very long time to come. The twentieth year of operation for Fjörukráin is just starting and we will do many things to celebrate that milestone. We are planning many interesting and fun events in conjunction with our anniversary year.
Johannes Vidar Bjarnason
General Manager & Owner
Viking Village Restaurant - Hafnarfjörður
Story
The Old house
The old house was built in 1841 by the shopkeeper Matthías Jónsson Mathiesen and he built the southern house a year later. Both houses are still standing in their original form in the cluster of houses at the Viking Village and are usually referred to as the Fjaran or Fjörukráin. Over time these old houses have been used for many things , such as a small shop, a department store, general storage, smithy, sailmaking workshop and the first classes in maritime navigation were held there, it served as a horsestable, a barn and a later also as a pharmacy.
During the first part of the last century the Old House was connected to the fishing trawler industry here in Hafnarfjörður that later became a flourishing fishing industry and contributed to the thrift and development of the town.
Over time these old houses have been used for many things , such as a small shop, a department store, general storage, smithy, sailmaking workshop and the first classes in maritime navigation were held there, it served as a horsestable, a barn and a later also as a pharmacy. During the first part of the last century the Old House was connected to the fishing trawler industry here in Hafnarfjörður that later became a flourishing fishing industry and contributed to the thrift and development of the town.
Catch Viking fever and make plans for talented performers to re-enact a classic Viking kidnapping! This organized theatrical event can occur off the bus or -- when you least expect it - anytime and anywhere within the village. Groups love it!
The drama continues as the warriors proudly lead their captives into the newest addition to Viking Village --- The Cave. Inside this authentic cavern bar the atmosphere is sparked by special effects while the captives enjoy their tradiitional drink of "mead" and merry Vikings lead the sing-a-longs. The fun is contagious as the Vikings command your attention telling their very tall tales.
On the 7th of February 1985 the Hafnarfjörður city council voted to have the house demolished after the consent of the building commission. The building commission however sent the matter for consultation to the National Committee of Building Preservation which unanimously voted against the demolition of the house. At that time the city sold the house to Viktor Strange and Harrý Holmgeirsson. They rebuilt it and finished the job in 1986. That same year they opened the restaurant Fjaran with grandeur in the house. In 1990 they sold the company to Jóhannes Viðar Bjarnason who changed the name to Fjörukráin and opened the restaurant on May 10th that same year after a few changes. He introduced many novelties to his clients, that had never been seen in restaurants neither here in Hafnarförður nor elsewhere in the country.
Jóhannes started connecting song and food and held many days and events connected to the various countries. He dressed up his waiters and singers in the national costumes of the respective countries. Among the great events that he held were french days, swiss, austrian, danish, russian, egyptian, faroese and greenlandish days. Often artists came from the respective countries to partake in the events or local talent originating from the above countries were involved. From the above one can see that a great number of foreign artists have visited the Fjörukráin over the years not to mention all the local artists, singers and musicians that have provided enjoyment to the guests in the viking feasts up to this day.
A year later, or on May 10th 1991 the viking feasts started in a tent that was erected just south of Fjörukráin, the Old House. This date, the 10th of May has become a milestone date that is used for the introduction of novelties at the center for each year and the years to come. On this day there have been many great parties given for the friends of the center in order to introduce the changes and new things in our operation. Thus the center has grown step by step, the Fjörukráin which started out with 60 seats now has seats for 500 guests. The facilities now comprise two restaurants standing side by side and the Hotel Viking.
The operation has been developed in stages according to the financial status at each time, step by step. When the tower building was erected not all were happy about that and there was a great debate in the newspapers and elsewhere about it, but the tower was built and has since become one of the main symbols of the skyline of Hafnarfjörður.
Another novelty was also introduced, which was the possibility for people to go on whalewatching and takle fun trips from here and the ship Fjörunesið was purchased for that purpose. Unfortunately we were ahead of our time regarding those types of attractions as the whale watching tours had not become as fashionalble as they are today and the sale of alcohol was banned on board the ship. This business was aboilshed after two tough years of trying. It can be said that the timing was not right for this business from our side. Just a few years later whale watching and fun tours on the ocean had become a thriving and popular business. The Hafnarfjörður steel smithy was later added to our company and it was changed into a hotel called the West Norden Guesthouse. The rooms were decorated with woodcuts and pictures from various historic places from our neighbor countries, Greenland and the Faroes.
Of course icelandic handicrafts were held in great esteem there also. On the first floor of the house was the West Norden Culture house and shop. There were also workshops for handicraft artists who sold their goods there.
As with the boat divison this did not work out financially and the operation was changed into a more lucrative business and the guest house was changed into a hotel and rooms were added. The handicraft shop was changed into the breakfast room for the hotel and a now very popular cave was built into the mount beside the hotel as an extension out from the breakfast room. We now have 42 modern rooms in the hotel with all neccesary amenities. Many things have been tried, some worked out well others not so well which is often the case in business
Several years ago the Fjörukráin was quite active in going abroad and for years we worked at travel promotion in the various cities of Europe. These promotions were mainly done in cooperation with Icelandair and the Iceland Tourist Board and at our own initiative. This proved to be a great way of promotion and most of the tourists who visited this country came to us for the Viking feasts in the Fjörukráin.
The Fjörukráin was the originator of the Viking Festival and at the outset Icelandair was a partner, later the Hafnarfjörður city, Íshestar and other parties joined us. The first three Viking Festivals were held by these partners and the company, Landnám was founded by them in conjunction with the Viking Festivals
Here we have only discussed the main points and much more can be said but that has to be done at a later date and moment. One thing is for sure that since the Old House was built almost 170 years ago the houses here have been houses of action and life and will hopefully reamin so for a very long time to come. The twentieth year of operation for Fjörukráin is just starting and we will do many things to celebrate that milestone. We are planning many interesting and fun events in conjunction with our anniversary year.
Johannes Vidar Bjarnason
General Manager & Owner