The Official Tourist Guide - East Iceland

72
HISTORY & MUSEUMS
Historical places
⌘ Bustarfell the farm and folk museum is an
extremely well-preserved old turf building. The
turfhouse farm is originally from 1770, but has
been extended and renovated inside for every
generation until 1966 when the last inhabitants
left.
⌘ Heiðarbýlin - The Heath farms are some 16
farms built on Jökuldalsheiði around the middle
of last century, but the area was rendered almost
uninhabitable by the Mt. Askja eruption in 1875.
Some farms remained inhabited until the middle
of this century. Remains of settlements dating
from 1841-1946 can be seen along the Ring
Road. There is a trail linking the farms.
⌘ Sænautasel is a good example of a turf farm
which was inhabited from 1843-1943 and is
located on the lakeshore.
⌘ At Aðalból in Hrafnkelsdalur, the farmstead
of Hrafnkell Freysgoði is also his burial mound.
Various artefacts have been discovered in the
vicinity that appear to support the validity of the
Saga of Hrafnkell. Every August scenes from the
Saga are enacted on the Hrafnkelsday.
⌘ Eiðar used to be one of its locality’s most
important farms and church. An agricultural
school was founded here in 1883. The
dormitories formerly occupied by the pupils are
used as a summer hotel, and efforts are being
made to develop a centre for arts and culture.