HVALSEY CHURCH

Don't miss the ruins of Hvalsey Church, the best-preserved example of Viking settlement in Greenland, no less! Built of ashlar, the church has survived the ravages of time, unlike other Icelandic churches of the period made of wood and grass. It measures 16 metres long by 8 metres wide, with walls 1.50 metres thick and 6 metres high. The stones were carefully laid and assembled. Some weigh between 4 and 5 tonnes, if not more! The church may have been white when it was built, due to the use of mortar made from crushed shells. Qaqortoq, meaning "the white place", may have acquired its name by association with the church. According to ancient accounts, Thorkel Farserk, a cousin of Erik the Red, took possession of the place. Thorkel was one of the men who followed Erik the Red to this new land in 985, and certainly died as a pagan and was buried near his farm in Hvalsey. Christianity made its appearance around the year 1000, and soon afterwards church building began. The last known manifestation dates back to 1408, when an exceptional marriage was celebrated between Icelanders Þorsteinn Ólafsson and Sigríður Björnsdóttir. Thereafter, contact was lost with Scandinavian Greenland, although it is assumed that the eastern colony survived until the 1450s, or even later. In 1723, Hans Egede was the first European to visit the site, as he traveled south in search of any surviving Scandinavians. He described the ruins of the Hvalsey church as similar to their present state. In the ^20th century, the church was restored, but no attempt was made to rebuild it, only to prevent further ruin. This tour will give you plenty of time to explore the ruins and enjoy the peaceful seclusion, surrounded by impressive sheer mountains, before returning to Qaqortoq.

In 2017, the church was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site, along with other sites in the region.

Half an hour by boat from Qaqortoq, the tour lasts around 2.5 hours, with a 1-hour stop on site. No difficulties, minimum 2 participants. Choose between Blue Ice Explorer or Sagalands. Combining this tour with an excursion to the Uunartoq hot springs and the Upernaviarsuk experimental farm is a good way to fill a full day's program.