Downtown in Reykjavík in Reykjavíkurborg, Höfuđborgarsvćđiđ, Iceland — North Atlantic and Artic Oceans (a Nordic Island)
Franski Spítalinn
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The French Hospital
Photographed by Connor Olson, July 4, 2025
1. The French Hospital Marker
Lindargata
Húsiđ hér á horni Lindargötu og Frakkastigs reistu Frakkar áriđ 1902 sem spítala fyrir franska sjómenn er stunduđu ţorskveiđar á Íslandsmiđum. Ţađ rúmađi 20 sjúklinga. Skömmu síđar reistu Frakkar tvo ađra spítala í sama skyni, á Fáskrúđsfirđi međ 17 rúmum og í Vestmannaeyjum međ 9 rúmum.
Arkitekt hússins var danskur, Bald ađ nafni, og timbrio í ţađ kom einnig frá Danmörku. Húsiđ er einlyft, med risi og byggt á hlöđnum grunni.
Spítalanum í Reykjavík var ćtlađ ađ sinna sjómönnum sem voru á miđunum vestur af landinu. Lćknar og annađ hjúkrunarfólk var flest íslenskt og var tekiđ viđ íslenskum sjúklingum jafnt sem frönskum.
Um ţćr mundir sem spítalinn var reistur komu árlega 150-200 frönsk skip á Íslandsmiđ, langflest skútur, og voru hér frá febrúar til ágústloka. Á ţeim voru 4000-5000 sjómenn. Ţau fengu góđan afla en urđu einnig fyrir tíđum skakkaföllum, sum strönduđu, önnur hurfu í sjó.
Frá 1825 til 1930 fórust um 400 franskar skútur hér viđ land og međ ţeim 4000 franskir sjómenn. Áriđ 1892 fórust til ađ mynda 12 skútur međ 139 mönnum. Íslendingar björguđu fjölda sjómanna úr sjávarháska, oft viđ erfiđar ađstćđur.
Veiđum Frakka lauk ađ mestu áriđ 1914. Spítalinn var ţó rekinn áfram til 1927, síđustu árin á vegum Reykjavíkurbćjar. Síđan hefur húsiđ lengst af veriđ notađ undir skólahald, 1935-1976 fyrir Gagnfrćđaskólann í Reykjavík, Ingimarsskóla, og eftir 1977 undirrónmenntaskóla Reykjavíkur. Húsiđ var endurgert ađ utan áriđ 1988 og fćrt til upphaflegs útlits.
Sendiráđ Frakklands á Íslandi og Reykjavíkurborg vilja minna á hin gömlu tengsl Frakka og Reykjavíkur međ ţessu skilti.
Lindargata 51
The building here on the corner of Lindargata and Frakkastigur was built in 1902 by the French, to serve French mariners who were fishing for cod off the coast of Iceland. It had beds for twenty patients. Shortly afterwards two more French hospitals were built to serve the same purpose: a 17-bed facility in Fáskruösfjörour in the east, and another in the Westman Islands off the south coast, with nine beds.
The building was designed by a Danish architect named Bald, and the timber for the construction was also imported from Denmark. The building is a single storey with attic, built on a stone foundation.
The French Hospital in Reykjavik was intended to provide medical care for seamen in the fishing grounds to the west of Iceland. The doctors and most of the nurses were Icelandic, and the hospital took in both Icelanders and Frenchmen.
At the time when the hospital was built, 150 - 200 French ships - the vast majority schooners - fished each year in Icelandic waters, staying from February until the end of August. The crews of the vessels totalled four to five thousand men. The ships fished well and took good catches, but they also got into difficulties: some ran aground, others were lost at sea.
Between 1825 and 1930 about 400 French fishing schooners foundered off Iceland, with a loss of about 4,000 lives. In 1892, for instance, twelve schooners were lost, with 139 men. Icelanders rescued many mariners at sea, often in hazardous conditions.
The French fishery off Iceland largely came to an end in 1914. The hospital continued to operate, however, until 1927. For the last few years it was run by the municipal authorities of Reykjavik. Since it closed the building has housed schools of various kinds: the Reykjavik Lower Secondary School (Ingimar's School) 1935-1976, and since 1977 the Reykjavik Music School. The exterior was renovated in 1988, restoring the hospital's original appearance.
The French Embassy in Iceland and the City of Reykjavik wish, by installing this sign, to draw attention to the long-standing relationship between France and Reykjavik.
Erected by City
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1902.
Location. 64° 8.761′ N, 21° 55.418′ W. Marker is in Reykjavík, Capital Region (Höfuđborgarsvćđiđ), in Reykjavíkurborg. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of Lindargata and Frakkastigur, on the right when traveling north on Lindargata. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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: Hverfisgata 45 (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); Founding of the Reykjavik Water Utility / Uphaf vatnsveitu (about 180 meters away); Laugavegur 15 (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Skólavörđustígur 13 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away);
Photographed by Connor Olson, July 4, 2025
2. The French Hospital Marker
Photographed by Connor Olson, July 4, 2025
3. The French Hospital
Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 28, 2025, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 45 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 28, 2025, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
