S
teinunn Sveinsdottir had the following inscription engraved on the front door knocker:
“This church was built in 1848 without the support of clergy.”
The black wooden church of Búðakirkja is a remnant of the former municipality of Búðir. It stands out for its exceptionally aesthetically pleasing appearance and its rather unusual history of creation.
Búðir Church, or Budakirkja
Only small white accents – doors and windows – stand out in the uniformly black body of the church. The church is a historic building owned by the National Museum of Iceland, but is under the care of the parish of Búðir.
The minimalist but very distinctive exterior contrasts wonderfully with the sky and the mountain peaks visible in the distance. One gets the impression that Budakirkja fell from the sky here… No wonder it has become not only an object of interest for photographers, but also for future spouses planning their wedding and reception.
Budakirkja Church
The church has historic furnishings: a bell from 1672, a knocker from 1703 (with an unusual inscription) and an altar, a silver chalice and two candlesticks from the mid-18th century.
S
teinunn Sveinsdottir had the following inscription engraved on the front door knocker:
“This church was built in 1848 without the support of clergy.”
The hamlet of Búðir
Búðir, where the church lies, is a small hamlet located in the western part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Once a prosperous fishing village and one of Snæfellsnes’ most active trading places, today it thrives primarily through tourism.
Búðir is located within the Búðahraun lava field. It extends east from the village seaward across Faxaflói Bay and west to the Hraunlandarif reef. The source of the lava is the 88-meter-high volcanic crater Búðaklettur, located in the center of the field. An opening on its southwest side allows entrance to the 382-meter Búðahellir Cave.
Búðahraun is famous for its rich flora, with some 130 different plant species. These include rare and protected species. The eastern part of the lava field has been an official nature reserve since 1977.
How to get to Budakirkja Church
Budir is located only about 2 km south of where road 574, which circles the westernmost part of Snaefellsnes, connects with the peninsula’s main road, road 54.
It’s about 20 km northeast of Arnarstapi and about 40 km south of Grundarfjordur (in a straight line it’s only about 12 km).
Budakirkja Church
