Reykjavík College, Reykjavík, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Reykjavík College (Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, or MR) is the historic secondary school in the centre of Reykjavík, Iceland. Its main building matters far beyond the classroom: it hosted the National Assembly of 1851, where Icelandic delegates stood up to the Danish authorities in a defining moment of the independence movement. It is still a working school today.

The story behind it

The school's main building once served as the seat of the Icelandic parliament, the Althing, before a dedicated parliament house was built. In 1851 it was the setting for the National Assembly, which had been called to discuss a Danish proposal on Iceland's constitutional status. The royal representative, Trampe, saw that the delegates were not going to approve it and moved to dissolve the meeting.

At that point Jón Sigurðsson, the leader of the independence movement, rose to protest. The other Icelandic delegates stood with him and declared together, "We all protest!" The words became famous in Icelandic history. The question of Iceland's constitutional position stayed unsettled for decades afterwards. The school itself carries on: it is still going strong, keeps many old traditions alive, and students can choose to study Latin and Greek.

What to look for

• Look at the main building as a whole and picture the 1851 assembly gathered inside, with the delegates rising together to protest.
• Notice the setting close to the Tjörnin pond, in the middle of the old town and near the seats of Icelandic government.
• Watch for students coming and going, a reminder that this is a living school and not a museum.
• Think about the classical tradition here: Latin and Greek are still on offer, a link to the school's long academic history.

Tips for your visit

• Plan on 10 to 15 minutes to see the building from outside and take in its story, longer if you combine it with a walk around the area.
• It is a working school, so do not expect to wander inside. Respect classes and students, and check current access rules if you hope to see more.
• Visit outside school drop-off and pick-up times if you want a quieter look at the exterior.
• The Tjörnin pond, Austurvöllur square and the parliament and government buildings are all within an easy walk, so it fits neatly into a stroll through central Reykjavík.

See it on a quest

The best way to appreciate this place is to reach it on foot as one stop of a longer route through the old town. Discover the key to Reykjavik is a self-guided quest that passes the school. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in what is in front of you, so the story of 1851 stays with you instead of being read off a plaque. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.