Kirkjubæjarklaustur is a small town situated on the famous road No. 1 in South Iceland. It is surrounded by the picturesque Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, as well as numerous waterfalls and lava fields.
The history of the settlement dates back to medieval times and its name means "church farm". The most famous episode in the history of this place is the event in 1783, when the nearby volcano Laki erupted. A huge torrent of lava destroyed many of the surrounding villages, pastures and farmland. In this situation, the local pastor gathered the inhabitants and began to pray. The lava stopped a few kilometers from the village and did not cause any damage.
The area around Kirkjubæjarklaustur is known for its volcanic landscapes. There are, among others green lava fields. However, in the village itself, you can see the unveiling of basalt columns called Posadzka Kościelna. It resembles a temple floor made of polygonal cubes.
The most famous place in the vicinity of Kirkjubæjarklaustur is the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon with a length of 2 km and walls rising to 100 m. It is overgrown with lush green vegetation as in Iceland, and the whole thing looks like transferred from a fantasy story. In 2015, he shot the music video of Justin Bieber in the canyon, thanks to which the place gained international fame.
There are also many picturesque waterfalls around the village. The most important ones are Systrafoss Waterfall, Fagrifoss Waterfall, Rauðárfoss Waterfall, and Systrastapi Waterfall.
