Downtown in Reykjavík in Reykjavíkurborg, Höfuðborgarsvæðið, Iceland — North Atlantic and Artic Oceans (a Nordic Island)

Laugavegur

Reykjavik Bókmenntaborg UNESCO City of Literature

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 18, 2018

1. Laugavegur Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

(Icelandic text:)

Laugavegurinn dregur nafn sitt af gömlu þvottalaugunum í Laugardal en þangað báru konur þvott frá Reykjavík til þess að þvo í heitu laugunum allt til ársins 1930. Árið 1885 var hafist handa við að leggja veg til þess að auðvelda fólki leiðina að laugunum og var vonast til að burður á þungum þvotti legðist af með bættum samgöngum. Margrét Jónsdóttir (1893-1971) skáld, sem er liklega þekktust fyrir kvæði sitt „island er land þitt", gerði aðstæðum þvottakvennanna góð skil í ljóðinu um Þórunni gömlu þvottakonu, sem þvoði þvott fyrir aðra en lifði sjálf við kröpp kjör. Hér er fyrsta erindi ljóðsins.

„Þórunn gamla þvottakona / þrammar áfram köld og sljó, / eftir dagsins erfióleika / á hún von á hvíld og ró. / Vetur yfir veginn breiðir / voð úr mjallahvítum snjó."

(English text:)

The street name Laugavegur derives from the hot springs in Laugardalur (Hot Spring Valley), where the women of Reykjavik washed their laundry up until the 1930's. Women carried laundry from the town, which was originally down the hill from here, to the valley and back. In 1885, a road was laid to make the journey to the springs easier. The poet Margret Jonsdottir (1893-1971) depicts the harsh reality of these hard-working women in her poem about þorunn, the old washerwoman who did laundry for wealthy families, while she lived in poverty.

"Old Thórunn, the washerwoman / plods along, stunned [illegible] of aching toil / is finally all told. / Before her, winter's snow-white bolts / of softest wool [illegible].

Erected by Siminn.

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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Roads & Vehicles • Women.

Location. 64° 8.794′ N, 21° 55.984′ W. Marker is in Reykjavík, Capital Region (Höfuðborgarsvæðið), in Reykjavíkurborg. It is in Downtown. It is on Laugavegur just east of Ingólfsstræti, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Laugavegur 1, Reykjavík, Capital Region 101, Iceland. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

on the Atlantic Arc,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

in the Nordic Countries,

in the Schengen Area,

in the Western Hemisphere,

and in the Western World.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bankastræti 10 (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Gunnlaugur Clæssen (within shouting distance of this marker); The Culture House / Safnahúsið (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Arnarhóll Arnarhólstraðir (about 120 meters away); Arnarhólstraðir / The Arnar Hill Path (about

Laugavegur Marker - Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 18, 2018

2. Laugavegur Marker - Wide View

The marker is visible on the left, below the Icemart sign.

120 meters away); Þingholtsstræti 13 (about 120 meters away); Laugavegur 15 (about 150 meters away); Bernhöftshús (about 150 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reykjavík.

Also see . . . Laugavegur 1. Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature website entry (Submitted on June 2, 2018.)

Laugavegur Marker Inset Photo: Women washing laundry at Laugardalur image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 18, 2018

3. Laugavegur Marker Inset Photo: Women washing laundry at Laugardalur

Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 315 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 2, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.