SELARDALUR IN THE WESTFJORDS - SAMUEL JONSSON

This camp is located in Selardalur on the west side of Arnarfjorour, in the Westfjords, which are among the most breathtakingly beautiful places in Iceland, with its high mountains and dramatic fjords cutting deep into the landscape. The Lonely Planet put the area on its top 10 list of regions in the world to visit in 2011. Jonsson constructed at his farm in Selardalur a folk art environment that consists of a sculpture garden and two built structures: a chapel and a museum with his paintings and other small works. The story related with the chapel says that Jonsson had made an altar, he wanted to donate to the local church, an offer that was rejected however. So to provide a place for the artwork, Jonsson constructed his own chapelSamuel Jonsson could first fully devote himself to creative activities after his retirement as a farmer and then he began building palaces and sculptures. Samuel built a grotesque but charming resemblance to the lion s fountain in the Alhambra-palace in Granada, Spain, and sculptures of seals and other animals as of figures from Icelandic history like Leif the lucky who found America.Sadly, Jonsson passed away in 1969, leaving his creations without a caretaker. The land and the statues looked like they were simply going to be abandoned to nature in the out-of-the-way valley. However independent and government organizations have worked together with the support of SEEDS volunteers to preserve the site, which still remains for any visitors who would like to see the world through one Icelandic farmer’s eyes.
The distance from Reykjavik to Selárdalur is about 500 km (8-9 hours drive) via the Whale Bay tunnel; it is perhaps one of Iceland's most remote areas and a very peaceful and beautiful place to enjoy.