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Historical heritage · Ilimanaq, Avannaata
Colonial Houses of Ilimanaq
Two wooden 18th-century buildings, among the oldest in Greenland, restored in the settlement of Ilimanaq: the missionary Poul Egede’s house, from 1751, and the colonial warehouse, from 1778.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Colonial Houses of Ilimanaq
Ilimanaq, on the southern shore of the Icefjord entrance, was founded in 1741 with the Danish name Claushavn. Two of the country’s oldest wooden buildings remained in the settlement and are both protected as heritage.
The first is the house that missionary Poul Egede, son of Hans Egede, had built in 1751. The second is the royal trading company’s warehouse and shop, dating from 1778. Both fell into long disuse and were dismantled, repaired and reassembled in a restoration that received the Europa Nostra award for cultural heritage.
Today the houses are used again by the settlement and by visitors. Beside them are the small 1908 church and the residents’ colorful houses, with sled dogs tied in the yards.
A walk through the settlement shows the old houses, the church and the viewpoints over the bay, from where you can see icebergs leaving the fjord.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour for a walk around the settlement.
Best time
In summer, when boats connect Ilulissat and Ilimanaq more frequently. On clear nights, the bay’s icebergs turn golden.
How to get there
Ilimanaq is about an hour by boat from Ilulissat; the houses are in the settlement center, near the quay.
Tip
Ask for a guided walk through the village: residents tell the history of the houses and the whaling-era times.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Colonial Houses of Ilimanaq
Why are the houses in Ilimanaq important?
They are two of the oldest wooden buildings in Greenland, from 1751 and 1778, and have been carefully restored while preserving the original structure.
How do you get to Ilimanaq?
By boat from the port of Ilulissat, on a crossing that passes by the entrance to the Icefjord.
What else can you see in Ilimanaq?
The 1908 church, the residents’ colorful houses, the sled dogs and the view of the icebergs at the fjord entrance.