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Historic ruin · Qaqortoq, Kujalleq
Hvalsey Church
A stone church of the Norse settlers, with the walls still standing, on the edge of a fjord about 19 km from Qaqortoq. It is the site of the last written record of the Norse in the country, dated 1408.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Hvalsey Church
Hvalsey Church (Qaqortukulooq in Greenlandic) sits on a small green plain between the mountain and the water, on a fjord northeast of Qaqortoq. The Norse settlers built it with stones laid in courses, and no other Norse building in the country has survived so intact: the four walls still stand, with the window and door openings.
Around the church are the remains of the farm: the main house, stables, storehouses and the cemetery wall. The area is one of the five Kujataa sites inscribed by UNESCO.
Hvalsey is also the place of the last written record about the Norse in Greenland: a wedding held there in September 1408. After that, the colony disappears from the documents, and no one knows for sure how it ended.
Boats leave from Qaqortoq and stop in a cove near the ruin. There is also a multi-day trail between Qaqortoq and Igaliku that passes by Hvalsey.
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 four hours, counting the navigation from Qaqortoq.
Best time
At the height of summer, with more boat departures and the farm surrounded by pasture.
How to get there
By boat from Qaqortoq’s harbor, in about one hour. The ruin is a few minutes’ walk from the cove where the boats stop.
Tip
Do not climb on the walls or remove stones: the ruin is protected and fragile. The surrounding fields are sheep pastures; close the gates after passing through.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Hvalsey Church
Why is Hvalsey Church important?
Because it is the most intact Norse building in the country and was the setting for the last recorded event involving the settlers, a wedding in 1408.
How do you get to Hvalsey Church?
By boat from Qaqortoq, in about an hour. You can also reach it via the multi-day trail between Qaqortoq and Igaliku.
Is Hvalsey Church part of UNESCO?
Yes. Hvalsey is one of the components of the Kujataa site, inscribed in 2017.