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Government House (Office of the Prime Minister), Reykjavík

Government House (Office of the Prime Minister), Reykjavík

Highlight • Historical Site

Government House (Office of the Prime Minister), Reykjavík

Recommended by 52 hikers out of 57

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Location: Reykjavík, Iceland

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Best Hikes to Government House (Office of the Prime Minister), Reykjavík

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2. Sun Voyager (Sólfar) Sculpture – Harpa Concert Hall loop from Lækir

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3. Street Art Murals in Reykjavík – Gleðigata Rainbow Street loop from Hlemmur

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Tips

Willem VS

October 7, 2023

The Government House is a magnificent building in Reykjavík . It houses the Prime Minister's Office. The building was originally built as the first dungeon in Iceland, from the middle of the 18th century.

Willem VS

October 7, 2023

n 1904, the first Icelandic ministry took office in the building, and later the cabinet, after which the building was named, in 1918. Since then, the offices of the Prime Minister and the Government of Iceland have been working in the building. The office of the President of Iceland was housed in the Government House from 1973-1996. The Icelandic national flag was first hoisted at this building.

Beyond the Horizon

October 5, 2023

Walking through the city, you can hardly miss this magnificent building that now houses the Prime Minister's office. But did you know that these walls once enclosed Iceland's first prison?

It's hard to imagine, but the foundations for this building were laid in a 1733 letter. With the pardon of Katrín Ingjaldsdóttir and others, it became clear that Iceland needed its own facility for incarceration rather than sending prisoners to Denmark. Following a royal decree in 1759, construction of the prison finally began in 1761. In an interesting twist of fate, it was the convicts themselves who served their sentences by working on the construction.

When the prison was completed in 1770/71, it was funded by a controversial property and incarceration tax that didn't exactly win the hearts of Icelanders. The dungeon served its original purpose until 1816, when it finally closed its doors.

However, the building experienced a resurgence in the 20th century. In 1904 it became the headquarters of the first Icelandic ministry and eventually became the Cabinet Office in 1918. This venerable building has since housed the highest offices of the Icelandic government, including the President's Office from 1973 to 1996.

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Location: Reykjavík, Iceland

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Government House (Office of the Prime Minister), Reykjavík

1. Harpa Concert Hall – Hallgrímskirkja loop from Laugarás

2. Sun Voyager (Sólfar) Sculpture – Harpa Concert Hall loop from Lækir

3. Street Art Murals in Reykjavík – Gleðigata Rainbow Street loop from Hlemmur

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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