553B - Garden Parks III - The Parliament park

Austurvöllur is a park in the center of Reykjavík. A statue of Jón Sigurðsson, hero of Icelandic independence is in the center of the park. Around Austurvöllur there are many of the more remarkable buildings of the city, among them the Parliament building, Hotel Borg, the building of the National Telegraph and the Reykjavik Cathedral. Austurvöllur is a popular destination among city people on sunny days. The Parliament park is the oldest and best preserved park adjoining an official building in Iceland. The preparation for the park started with discussions in Parliament in August 1893. In just one day this venerable institution changed into something akin to a speech club on garden organisation. A committee of parliamentarians suggested that a small amusement park be constructed south of the parliament builing where “parliamentarians can sit and walk for their own enjoyment. “enjoyment.“