Egilsstaðir — Egil's Skull Enigma

Your quest for the skull of Egil Skallagrímsson, whose story was written in the 10th century, begins at Safnahúsið, the East Iceland Cultural Center. This building, erected in 1974 as a municipal library and expanded in 2011, is the cultural heart of Miðbær Egilsstaða. Its 2,500 subscribers and over 20,000 volumes in 2023 make it an ideal place for research. You will consult archives on Icelandic sagas and temporary exhibitions dedicated to local history, hoping to unearth the first clues about the fate of the warrior poet. This starting point at Tjarnarbraut 23, Egilsstaðir, immediately immerses you in the atmosphere of East Iceland.

Your journey then takes you to Lagarfljót, the glacial lake 25 km long and 2 km wide, located east of Egilsstaðir. It is here that the legend of the Lagarfljótsormurinn, the Lagarfljót worm, was first mentioned in 1345 in manuscript AM 764. This lake, 90 meters deep, fed by the Lagarfljót river, is an iconic site in Iceland, and a key place to understand ancient narratives. You will look for symbols on the shores, potentially linked to Egil, and clues left by the Tour de l'Ormurinn, the annual cycling competition that circles the lake since 2010.

Continuing your investigation south of Egilsstaðir, you enter Hallormsstaðaskógur, also known as Selskógur. This forest, the largest in Iceland with 740 hectares, was mainly planted between 1900 and 1950. Accessible on foot from the center of Egilsstaðir, it is home to over 20 tree species, including native birch and Siberian pines imported in 1930. Since 2020, an axe-throwing and Viking activities center has been established here, directly linked to local sagas. Perhaps the spirits of ancient warriors like Egil Skallagrímsson, whose settlement was founded by Þorsteinn Egilsson in the 15th century, left coded messages in the wood or stones.

Your path leads you to Egilsstaðabrú, the 150-meter bridge crossing the Eyjardalsá river, built in 1970. It connects the city center to Egilsstaðir airport and offers breathtaking views of Lagarfljót, forming a key point on the Ring Road (Route 1). This bridge, named after the proximity of Egilsstaðir, the first documented settlement in the 15th century, is a crossroads where past and present meet. You will examine the structures and surroundings for clues, as bridges are often places of passage and secrets in ancient tales of Austurland. Not far, Egilsstaðakirkja, a modernist Lutheran church built in 1946, with its 1890 bell, might hold symbols.

The final stage of your journey takes you to Fardagafoss, a 10-meter high waterfall, located 5 km east of Egilsstaðir and accessible by a one-hour walk from the center. Named after the historic 18th-century Fardagi farm, this waterfall is a major natural site, marked since 2015 by the Vatnajökull National Park. It is in this wild setting, where the forces of nature are palpable, that you hope to find the last piece of the puzzle concerning Egil Skallagrímsson's skull. Your exploration of Egilsstaðir with family will have offered you an immersive dive into the heritage of Austurland, revealing the city's history and Austurland monuments through a unique thematic circuit.