Þingvellir was the Icelandic assembly site where the Alþingi first met.
The Alþingi was established at Þingvellir around 930, making it one of the oldest parliamentary institutions in the world. Chieftains and free men gathered there to hear laws, settle disputes, make alliances, and conduct other public business.
Þingvellir lies in a rift valley formed by the movement of tectonic plates. The dramatic landscape includes cliffs, lava fields, and the river Öxará. Its natural setting helped create a recognizable meeting place in early Icelandic society.
The Alþingi later moved from Þingvellir to Reykjavík in 1845 after a long interruption and changes under Danish rule. Modern Iceland’s parliament retains the ancient name Alþingi, but its present institution is not identical in structure to the medieval assembly.