Surprise French

Wait, what’s a French street name doing in Grundarfjörður?

So, from 1852 to 1935, Breton fishermen hauled ass to Iceland to take in the bountiful cod harvest, which they would salt for the trip home. They had been doing the trip to Newfoundland since the 1500’s, but apparently neglected Iceland for some reason? In addition, it seems some French merchants stayed to live right here, even building a church and hospital. French fishing in Icelandic waters declined during WWI and officially stopped in 1935.

Based on this historical relationship, Grundarfjörður and Paimpol, Brittany have been official twin cities since 2004.

   16 May 2019
   Snaefellsnes
   
French street in Iceland