Rødven Stave Church is situated down by the beautiful Rødvenfjord in Rødven which is a branch of the Romsdalsfjord.

Rødven Stave Church is one of two Stave Churches that have exterior wooden pillars to support and to stiffen the building structure.

Season and Safety

Many of the activities, attractions, roads and accommodations mentioned on this website are open only in summer and are closed in winter. Season and opening times will vary, it usually opens in the summer and closes in the autumn, depending on, among other things, the amount of snow and the risk of landslides and avalanches in the area.

Important information about roads in Western Norway: There are restrictions on the length of vehicles on many of the roads in Norway. Many roads in Western Norway are prone to landslides and avalanches, especially in rainy and snowy weather. There might also be a chance that some of the roads are closed in short periods, especially during winter, due to weather and danger of rock- and snow avalanches and other dangerous conditions. Some of the roads in Western Norway are closed during winter! Winter tires are required in winter. Read more about Tyre Requirements in Norway...

It is important to take precautions for weather and road conditions, both when you drive and when you are out in nature in Norway. It is recommended to use a guide on the tours described on this website. Read more about safety and your own responsibility...

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.

FJORDS NORWAY - Urnes Stave Church at Ornes by the Lustrafjord. The idyllic Fjord Village Solvorn on the other side of the fjord. — The UNESCO-Protected Urnes Stave Church at Ornes by the Lustrafjord. The idyllic Fjord Village Solvorn on the other side of the fjord.

Rødven Stave Church in Romsdal

FJORDS NORWAY - Rødven Stave Church in Rødven. Rødven Church from 1907 AD in the background. — Rødven Stave Church in Rødven. Rødven Church from 1907 AD in the background.

Rødven Stave Church is situated in Rødven down by the beautiful Rødvenfjord which is a branch of the Romsdalsfjord. It is believed that Rødven Stave Church was built around year 1300 AD, but the stave church has older wood-materials and is probably from between year 1100 and 1200 AD.

Rødven Stave Church is one of two Stave Churches that also have exterior wooden pillars to support and to stiffen the building structure. The other stave church that has external wooden pillars is Kvernes Stave Church on Averøy at Nordmøre.

During an archaeological excavation in 1962 – 1963 AD, remains were found from an older stave church on the site where Rødven Stave Church stands. Later it was found remains from settlements and graves from the Iron Age and the Roman Age. Coins from the 1100s has also been found around Rødven Stave Church.

Season – Rødven Stave Church is open for guided tours in the summer and by appointment. See Rødven Stave Church website for season and opening hours.

How to travel to Rødven Stave Church

It is about 32 kilometers to drive from Åndalsnes to Rødven Stave Church. Åndalsnes is the natural center of Romsdal and the Romsdalsfjord. The Alpine town by the fjord is the hub for roads and railways and is situated in the middle of all the things that is worth seeing and doing in the Romsdalsfjord area.

You can reach Åndalsnes by car, six hours from Oslo or four hours from Trondheim. By train to the end-station Åndalsnes at one of Norways most spectacular railways, Rauma Railway. The Rauma Railway between Dombås and Åndalsnes is voted as Europe´s most scenic Rail Journey by Lonely Planet. The nearest airport is in Molde, then one hour by bus or car to Åndalsnes.

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. Ona Island and Lighthouse, The Atlantic Road and Midsundtrappene are attractions facing the Atlantic Ocean. 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. 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 there 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.

Accommodation at Åndalsnes and Romsdal

Grand Hotel at Åndalsnes
Frich´s Ekspress Hotel Åndalsnes
Aak Hotel in Romsdalen by Åndalsnes
Åndalsnes Vandrerhjem at Setnes at Veblungsnes
Åndalsnes Camping by Rauma River at Åndalsnes
Mjelva Camping at Mjelva at Åndalsnes
Soggebru Camping at Sogge at Åndalsnes
Trollstigen Resort at Sogge at Åndalsnes
Trollstigen Gjestegård og Camping in Isterdalen below Trollstigen
Trollveggen Camping by the Troll Wall in Romsdalen
Accommodation in Isfjorden

HOTELS - ACCOMMODATION - LINKS

Here you will find an overview of recommended HOTELS in addition to SPA & BATH HOTELS and OTHER ACCOMMODATION PLACES in Western Norway. The combination of beautiful nature, activities that you can do in all four seasons and a stay at a great accommodation is unique. A stay in one of these places will do you good, both for body and mind.

There are ten restaurants that have awarded Michelin stars and Michelin awards in Western Norway. Eight of the Michelin restaurants are in Stavanger and two in Bergen. Here you will find FJORDS MICHELIN, where you will also find a list of recommended hotels in Western Norway, recommended by Michelin.

VISIT NORWAY is the official travel guide for Norway. VISIT NORWAY'S FJORD GUIDE gives you a good overview of the most beautiful fjords in Norway. USEFUL LINKS is a list of websites with great information on Norway and the Fjords.

Rødven Stave Church – Map Overview

RØDVEN STAVE CHURCH