Bessastaðir

Bessastaðir - the Presidential Residence

The main building at Bessastaðir was built in 1761-1766. In 1805 the only secondary school in Iceland moved there. It was attended among others by the 'Fjölnismenn' and other students who later became leaders of the campaign for national independence. The school moved to Reykjavík in 1846. In 1867 the farm was purchased by the poet and statesman Grímur Thomsen, who lived there for almost two decades. Among later owners were editor and parlamentarian Skúli Thoroddsen, and his wife, Theodóra Thoroddsen, who was well known for her literary works. In 1940 Sigurður Jónasson bought Bessastaðir and donated it to the state in 1941 as a residence for the Regent and later the President of Iceland.

 

The law on the flag refers to its colors as sky blue (“heiðblár”), 

fiery red (“eldrauður”), and snow white (“mjallhvítur”), 

thus referring to glaciers and volcanic fire, 

which have made such a strong impact 

on the landscape of Iceland.

 

 

 

When Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson 

became President of Iceland, 

he was married to Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir. 

She died of leukemia in 1998.