Sagnheimar Heritage Museum Skansinn

Skansinn, the Fort, was originally built in 1536 to protect the Danish Royal store from English sailors and merchants.

In 1630, after the Turkish Raid in 1627, it was rebuilt to protect the inhabitants against further invasions. Skansinn is now one of the most spectacular views of the Westman Islands.

It also houses Landlyst (Landlyst Museum), one of the oldest buildings in the Westman Islands, built in 1847 as the first maternity home in Iceland.

In Skansinn there is also the beautiful Stafkirkja (The Stave Church) that is a replica of the first church building in the Westman Islands from the year 1000.

Opening hours: May-Sept: Daily 10am-5pm.

In 2000 Norway gave the Westman Islands the church to commemorate the thousand year anniversary of Iceland's conversion to Christianity.

Admission: Free.