The Commonwealth farm

One of Iceland's best-kept secrets is the Commonwealth farm near Jórsárdalur. The farmhouse, which stands on the location of one of the Age of Settlement's manor farms, is built just as experts predicted. The Commonwealth farm is constructed on the ruins of the former manor farm, Stöng in jórsárdalur, which is thought to have been abandoned following the 1104 Hekla eruption.

The Commonwealth farm (jóveldisbaerinn Stöng) is a 1970s-era rebuilt Viking village. The hamlet was constructed to allow visitors to experience what life was like for Icelanders during the Viking era. The main home is made of wood and has grass and a plant-covered roof, making it almost unnoticeable in the surrounding area. A multi-tiered waterfall can be viewed from behind. The village was built to look like a Viking settlement that was buried in ash following a volcanic eruption in the early 1100s. This village is being excavated right now and is open to the public. Visitors can get acquainted with the structures that Icelanders' forefathers resided in, as well as learn about the conditions they lived in and their daily lives.

The farm building itself is a kind of museum exhibit, displaying archaic handwork where it was not possible to do so, as in historical novels. The Commonwealth farm is a living testament to the fact that the homes of the ancient Icelanders were well-built and magnificent structures.

Location: Þjóðveldisbærinn, Iceland