About Ölfusborgir
The ASÍ holiday village beneath Reykjafjall
Ölfusborgir is a long-established holiday village for wage earners beneath Reykjafjall in Ölfus. The area is characterised by lush surroundings, tranquility and closeness to nature, and for decades it has been a venue for rest, outdoor life and togetherness.
Origins of the settlement
The Minister of Agriculture made a twelve-hectare plot of land from the Reykjir estate in Ölfus available to ASÍ, and there the building of the holiday village began. The architect Sigvaldi Thordarson was commissioned to design the houses, and the first holiday guests stayed on the site in June 1964.
Handover and name
The holiday homes beneath Reykjafjall were handed over to the Confederation of Labour of Iceland (ASÍ) on 12 September 1965. Hannibal Valdimarsson, then president of ASÍ, received the settlement, recounted the history of the holiday homes and announced the new name of the settlement — Ölfusborgir.
Popular education
In 1968 the Cultural and Educational Centre of the People was established on Nordic lines. Among its main fields was running the School of Social Affairs of the People, and for a period of years Ölfusborgir was the main venue for that education.
Operations today
The Ölfusborgir Cooperative Association handles the daily operation, supervision and maintenance of the site. The service centre of Ölfusborgir is in house 41, which is the centre of the activity on the site. House 37 is owned by the Cooperative Association and is specially fitted out with improved wheelchair access. The house is let to members of ASÍ member unions and is part of the aim that as many people as possible can enjoy a stay in Ölfusborgir.