Overview
About Bessastaðir
From an official residence to a school
Bessastaðastofa, the oldest building in the residence complex, was constructed in 1761–1766 during the governorship of Magnús Gíslason. It later housed Bessastaðaskóli, the country's leading school, from 1805 until the school returned to Reykjavík in 1846. Several pupils became prominent in Iceland's independence movement. The property subsequently passed through private ownership; businessman Sigurður Jónasson gave it to the state in 1941 for the regent's residence, preceding its role as the presidential home.
The church and the wider estate
The estate includes reception rooms, service buildings, residences and Bessastaðakirkja. The present church was consecrated in 1796 and contains stained-glass windows and historic furnishings. It is a farm church, meaning it belongs to the Bessastaðir property and is administered by the president's office. The church's continuing religious use sits alongside the ceremonial and residential functions of the neighbouring buildings.
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