Kvernes Stave Church at Kvernes at Averøy is, together with Rødven Stave Church, one of two stave churches that also have exterior wooden pillars to support and to stiffen the building structure.
If you are going to experience the Atlantic Road, it can be nicely combined with a detour to Kvernes Stave Church. It is between 18 and 27 kilometers to drive from Kårvåg by the Atlantic Road to Kvernes Stave Church, depending on which road you choose.
Visit Northwest
Visit Northwest is the official destination company for the Romsdalsfjord, Romsdal and Nordmøre area.
Stave Churches in Western Norway
A Stave Church is a wooden church from the middle age. Most of the Norwegian Stave Churches were built right after the Viking Age around year 1100-1200 AD. The name “Stave Church” comes from the construction of the buildings; large ground beams of wood are placed on a foundation of stone, then internal wooden pillars (staves) are interconnected and also connected to the outer walls.
Kvernes Stave Church at Kvernes, Averøy
Kvernes Stave Church is, together with Rødven Stave Church, one of two stave churches that also have exterior wooden pillars to support and to stiffen the building structure. It was until recently believed that Kvernes Stave Church was built around year 1300 AD. But after dating new samples of the timber, the church is now dated to year 1633 AD. This is quite a big sensation, it was not believed that the “stave constuction” was used this late.
Kvernes Stave Church is one of our biggest stave churches and can seat around 200 people. It is still in regular use, and is open for visit during summer.
Kvernes Stave Church is together with the newer Kvernes Church (from 1893 AD.) beautifully located with great view to the Kvernesfjord and Freifjord on the Atlantic Coast in Møre og Romsdal.
From Kvernes Stave Church, there is only a short drive to the Atlantic Road which is one of 18 Scenic Routes in Norway, and also voted as the construction of the twentieth century.
Season: Kvernes Stave Church is open for guided tours in the summer and by appointment. See Kvernes Stave Church website for season and opening hours.
The Atlantic Road and the Atlantic Coast
A 36-kilometer long stretch of road between the towns of Kristiansund and Molde. The Atlantic Road National Tourist Route runs from Kårvåg to Bud. There are several panoramic view- and rest areas with facilities in bold architectural forms along the Atlantic Road. There you can experience both nature and architecture in great interaction. Some of the viewing platforms are also popular among anglers…and photographers.
The Atlantic Coast between Kristiansund and Bud
Kristiansund is the third largest city in Møre og Romsdal, and is situated on four islands reaching out into the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic Coast and the many isles is dominating the landscape in the Kristiansund area.
The fishing village of Grip, 14 kilometers north-west of Kristiansund, is an important tourist destination for visitors in Kristiansund. In the summer season there are daily boat departures from the city to the small island. Grip Stave Church is believed to be built around year 1300 AD, and is located on Grip Island.
From Kristiansund, there is only a short distance to the Atlantic Road. The small island of Håholmen is worth a visit and here you can try sailing a Viking Ship. Håholmen is an old fishing community with 28 preserved buildings and can be reached by boat from the Geitøya Island just beside the Atlantic Road. Today, Classic Norway runs Håholmen Fiskevær with accommodation, restaurant, pub and museum on Håholmen.
From Vevang, the south east end of the Atlantic Road, you continue towards Farstad and the fishing village of Bud. We recommend you to drive detours on local roads towards the coast to be able to see more of the area and the coastal landscape. The Farstadstranda Beach at Farstad is a popular goal for surfers. From Bud you can walk along Kyststien (the coastal path), a four kilometer long path towards the open ocean.
Bjørnsund consists of four islands and in 1900 there were up to 600 inhabitants on the islands, though today Bjørnsund is an abandoned fishing village that is used solely for recreation. In the summer of 2020, the boat route to Bjørnsund was closed, and the island can now only be reached by private boat.
Romsdalsfjord – What to See and Do
From snowy mountains to beautiful coastline of islands and reefs. Experience all this in one day due to the short distance from mountains to coast.
Trollstigen, The Troll Wall, Romsdalseggen, Rampestreken and Litlefjellet are great places to visit in the inner part of the Romsdalsfjord, where the fjord meets the spectacular and alpine Romsdal mountains.
Drive to the viewpoint Varden at 407 masl and take in the spectacular Molde Panoramic View towards the Romsdalsfjord and the 222 snowcapped mountains. Ona Island and Ona Lighthouse, The Atlantic Road and Midsundtrappene are attractions facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Travel green to Åndalsnes with Rauma Railway, a wild, beautiful and unique experience regardless of season. From Åndalsnes Railway Station, you can walk straight from the train and over to the Romsdal Gondola that takes you up to the city-mountain Mt Nesaksla and Eggen Restaurant.
From Mt Nesaksla you have a fantastic view towards Isfjorden, down to the Romsdalsfjord and up towards the Romsdalen Valley which you have just experienced from the train ride along the Rauma Railway. The Romsdalsfjord is located in the county of Møre og Romsdal, north in Western Norway.
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