Tests of strength at
the Grettir Festival
Grettis Festival is held
in August
170 km from Reykjavík
Homepage
www.grettistak.is
  
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The Saga of Grettir Ásmundarson the Strong, from Bjarg in Miðfjörður, is one of the most famous of the Sagas of Icelanders. The saga takes place largely in the northwest of Iceland. It spans the period from the settlement of Iceland around 870 to the mid-11th century. Grettir, one of the great warriors of the sagas, was no ordinary man. Immensely strong, he is said to have carried a bull on his shoulders, killed berserks (crazed Viking warriors) and bears, and finally vanquished the terrifying ghost Glámur. Grettir spent 19 years as an outlaw, before being slain on the island of Drangey with his brother Illugi. Grettistak is developing a family entertainment park at Laugarbakki in Miðfjörður, inspired by the Saga of Grettir, to be named Grettisból. The emphasis will be on strength and fitness, and guests will have the opportunity to test their own strength. Multimedia presentations and an exhibition on the Saga of Grettir will be among the attractions. Since 1996 a Grettir Festival has been held each year. The high point of the festival is a “strongman” competition, in which strong-men and -women compete for the Grettir Cup. |
