ALTHING
Althing meeting two weeks a year, an open-air parliament, enacting laws, conceived as a social contract
The Althing is Iceland's parliamentary system, which dates back to the founding of the Icelandic nation.
From 930 to the end of the 18th century, the Althing ("plenary assembly") met two weeks a year in Þingvellir. This initiative stemmed from the desire of local chiefs throughout the country to define a system for making laws and settling disputes in a country without a king.
This open-air parliament, whose first president was Hrafn Hængsson, promulgated laws, conceived as a kind of social contract between free men, and calmed discord. It lasted 15 days, during which numerous festivities were held, attracting people from all over the country: poetry recitations, sagas readings, tournaments, games, dances..
The legislative prerogatives of the Althing were gradually curtailed from the mid-17thcentury onwards, and the Althing was transferred to Reykjavík at the end of the following century. This system was interrupted in 1800, when it was dismantled by the Danish monarchy, before being reinstated in 1945. Yet Þingvellir has retained its aura, and is still regarded by many as the place of the soul and spirit of the Icelandic nation.
The Þingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Althing remains a parliamentary system that is often evoked when talking about Iceland's cultural riches. It is considered the oldest parliament in Europe and one of the oldest in the world.
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Members' reviews on ALTHING
C'est surtout la faille entre les plaques eurasienne et américaine qui est impressionnante mais malheureusement que de touristes!