Set on a peninsula reaching into the waters of Borgarfjörður, Borgarnes is one of western Iceland’s central towns. With around 3800 inhabitants, it is the largest settlement in Borgarbyggð municipality. Its position as a main road junction and its role as the gateway to the Snæfellsnes National Park have made it important for both locals and those travelling between Iceland’s distinct regions.
Borgarnes is less than 70 kilometres from Reykjavík, connected by the Borgarfjarðarbrú bridge (the country’s second largest) which spans the fjord and brings together the north and south-west. Yet despite its proximity to the capital, the town’s identity is deeply shaped by its own history and landscape.
Saga roots and cultural heritage
The town finds its origins in the late nineteenth century, growing in a region known for its links to Egil’s Saga, one of Iceland’s most renowned medieval stories. The name Borgarnes comes from the farm Borg á Mýrum, home of Egill Skallagrímsson, the saga’s legendary poet and warrior. The community’s pride in these roots is clear at the Settlement Center museum, which is dedicated to Egil’s Saga and the broader history of early Icelandic settlement.
The mark of the sagas appears elsewhere in town. Skallagrímsgarður, a public park, contains a hill traditionally regarded as the grave of Egil’s father, Skallagrímur Kveldúlfsson, adding a tangible link to the history that has shaped the region’s identity.
Natural surroundings and modern life
Borgarfjörður’s surrounding forests, among them Vatnshorn, Norðtunga, Selskógar, Stalpastaðir and Jafnaskarð, are about 40 kilometres from Borgarnes town center. Overseen by the Icelandic Forest Service, these woods mix birch, the oldest and tallest in Iceland, with native conifers. The forests are living reminders of how the landscape has gradually changed and been restored over time.
Borgarnes retains a strong community spirit. While fishing, once an essential local industry, has faded, agriculture, tourism and cultural activities are now the area’s mainstays. Local culture is also celebrated at the Safnahús Borgarfjarðar, a museum holding artefacts and photographs that document the region’s history and daily life. In 2013, it received special recognition from the Saga Council for its contribution to preserving Icelandic heritage.
The town is also a familiar name in some modern contexts. Borgarnes served as a location in “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”, with the Geirabakari Kaffihús briefly transformed for the film. Musical and creative talent has emerged here too, such as composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir and Magnús Scheving, creator of the children’s show LazyTown, who describes attending school in Borgarnes with only three classmates in his grade.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
