Built right after the Viking age – in the Middle Age there were probably more than 1000 stave churches in Norway. Today, there are only 28 left, nine of them are located 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.
Stave Churches in the Fjords
Here you will find information with links, pictures and videos of the 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.
The oldest stave church was built at Ornes by the Lustrafjord around year 1130AD. and is part of our common UNESCO World Heritage.
The newest stave church is Kvernes Stave Church, which is also one of our largest stave churches. Kvernes Stave Church is beautifully located with a great view over Kvernesfjorden and Freifjorden on the Atlantic coast in Møre og Romsdal.
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.
Undredal Stave Church at Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord is the smallest church in Norway.
Urnes Stave Church at Ornes by the Lustrafjord
Urnes Stave Church is the oldest of the remaining stave churches, and is one of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Western Norway. The church was built around year 1130 AD, and is situated at Ornes by the Lustrafjord in Luster. The Lustrafjord is a branch of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord.
The latest datings shows that the oldest timber used in the church was cut in the year 1070 AD, while timber from younger parts was cut in the years between 1129–1130 AD. The exterior wood carvings make Urnes Stave Church special and unique.
A nice way to explore Urnes Stave Church and the beautiful surroundings is to drive to Solvorn and cross the Lustrafjord by ferry to Ornes. From the ferry quay at Urnes, there is only a short walk uphill to Urnes Stave Church.
During summer you can join a guided “tour” both outside and inside the church. See the official website of Urnes Stave Church for more information about season, opening hours, guiding and about Urnes Stave Church.
Borgund Stave Church at Borgund in Lærdal
Borgund Stave Church was built around year 1181 AD. at Borgund in the Lærdalsdalen valley in Lærdal. Lærdal is the gateway to the Sognefjord. This is the most visited stave church in Norway, and with its charasteristic design it has often been used as a “model” when other stave churches has been restored or built.
If you visit Borgund Stave Church, we recommend that you also visit Vindhellavegen Road, which is just behind the stave church. The 1.7 kilometer long Vindhellavegen Road was completed in 1793 AD. and is now part of a 100 kilometer long hiking trail, the old King´s Road, between Vang in Valdres and Lærdal by the Sognefjord.
There is a visitor centre and café near by where you can buy tickets for a guided tour and to get information about the stave church. The visitor center is open from mid-April to mid-October, this can vary. Check out the official website for Borgund Stave Church for more information on opening hours, tickets and guiding.
Hopperstad Stave Church in Vik in Sogn
Hopperstad Stave Church in Vik in Sogn has a similar construction as Borgund Stave Church in Lærdal. It was built around year 1130 AD. and is one of our oldest stave churches.
Dating that has been carried out in recent times from several samples of the timber shows that the timber in the stave church were cut between the years 1034 and 1116 AD.
Around year 1880 AD. the church was reconstructed, and Borgund Stave Church at Borgund in Lærdal was used as a “model”. It is believed that the church originally was similar to Borgund Stave Church. Most of the interior is preserved as it was originally. Several external portals on Hopperstad Stave Church are richly decorated. There are wood carvings with, among other motifs, dragon motifs.
In summer you can join a guided “tour” at Hopperstad Stave Church. See the website for Hopperstad Stave Church for season and opening hours.
Kaupanger Stave Church at Kaupanger by the Sognefjord
Kaupanger Stave Church has been in continous use since it was built around year 1140 AD. It is one of the largest Stave Churches in Norway, and is built with wood from the forest around Kaupanger.
The church is situated on the hillside above the Kaupanger Bay by the Sognefjord, which originally is an old Viking trading town. The name Kaupanger origins from the two norse words “Kaup” (to buy) and “angr” (bay).
There was originally another stave church at Kaupanger, but it burned down in 1130 AD. Several objects from Kaupanger Stave Church are today on display at the University Museum in Bergen. Among the objects that have been transferred to the museum is, among other things, a decorated wooden plate that is dated to the 13th century.
Kaupanger Stave Church is still in use as a parish church and is used both for services, baptisms and weddings. Apart from Kaupanger, Sogndal is the closest town to the church, it is about 12 kilometers to drive from Sogndal to Kaupanger Stave Church.
Kaupanger Stave Church is open for visit during summer. See the official website of Kaupanger Stave Church for information about season and opening hours.
Undredal Stave Church by the Aurlandsfjord
Undredal Stave Church in Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord is Norways smallest church and had its 850-years celebration in year 1997. The year 1147 AD. is found in the carvings inside the church and is used as the official date of the building.
The film Frozen I was inspired by this small village and stave church, which is surrounded by precipitous mountains that rise straight up from the fjord.
Undredal Stave Church in Undredal is Norway’s smallest church with only 40 seats. The original church bell in Undredal Stave Church is the first Norwegian church bell from the Middle Ages. It is no longer in use, but it is hanging inside the stave church. The original murals have now reappeared after being covered with several layers of white paint. The white paint was removed in the 1960s.
Undredal Stave Church is still in use and is used both for services, baptisms and weddings. There are no fixed times for guided tours of the church except for a period in the summer. A visit or a guided tour inside the church can be booked via Explore Undredal.
Rødven Stave Church in Rødven by the Romsdalsfjord
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 have exterior wooden pillars to support and to stiffen the building structure.
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.
Rødven Stave Church is open for guided tours in the summer and by appointment. See Rødven Stave Church website for season and opening hours.
Røldal Stave Church in Røldal in Hardanger
Røldal Stave Church is estimated to be built between year 1200 and 1250 AD. The original church was built with the stave construction. During reconstructions in 1844 and between 1913 and 1918 AD, it was discovered that Røldal Stave Church was different from other stave churches. The original walls were covered and protected by new outer walls during the last reconstruction.
In the Midde Age, Røldal Stave Church was one of the most important churches in Norway for pilgrims. Due to this, the church received large donations from the pilgrims, and the village of Røldal became quite prosperous.
In addition to several objects in the stave church, such as a crucifix from the 13th century and a baptismal font from the 13th-14th centuries, a number of objects from Røldal Stave Church are also kept in the University Museum in Bergen.
Røldal Stave Church is currently in use as a regular church, but there are also guided tours in the summer. See the website of Røldal Stave Church for season and opening hours.
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.
Kvernes Stave Church is one of our biggest stave churches and can seat around 200 people. The Stave Church is together with the newer Kvernes Church (from 1893 AD.) beautifully located with great view to Kvernesfjorden and Freifjord on the Atlantic Coast in Møre og Romsdal.
From Kværnes 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 in Norway.
Kvernes Stave Church is still in regular use, and is open for guided tours in the summer and by appointment. See Kvernes Stave Church website for season and opening hours.
Grip Stave Church at Grip Island
To visit Grip Stave Church, you need to go by boat. The stave church is believed to be built around year 1300 AD, and is located on the Grip Island on the Atlantic Coast, 14 kilometer north west of Kristiansund in Møre og Romsdal. The stave church is placed on the highest point in the middle of the island, and it is protected from the storms by the surrounding houses.
The altarpiece was donated by Princess Elisabeth of the Netherlands after being rescued by Norwegian sailors during a violent storm in 1515 AD.
Grip Stave Church is one of Norways smallest churches, and is open for visit every day during summer. A round trip by boat from the pier in Kristiansund to Grip can be done twice a day from early June until late August. This roundtrip, including boat trip and guiding on the island and the stave church, takes approximately 3.5 hours. The Grip island is closed in winter.
References
Stave Churches – Useful Links
Stave Churches in Norway: Stavechurch.com
Heritage Times: The Stave Churches of Norway