Undredal Stave Church is Norway’s smallest church and stands in Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord. 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.
The year 1147 AD. is found in the carvings inside the church and is used as the official date of the building.
Visit Sognefjord
Visit Sognefjord is the official destination company for the Sognefjord 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.
Undredal Stave Church in Undredal
Undredal Stave Church in Undredal is Norway’s smallest church with only 40 seats. The stave church had its 850th anniversary in year 1997 AD. The year 1147 AD. is found in the carvings inside the church and is therefore used as the official date of the church.
The original church bell in Undredal Stave Church is the first Norwegian church bell from the Middle Ages. It is no longer in use and has been replaced by two newer church bells from year 1884 and 1996 AD. respectively. The old church bell 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.
One of the nearby abandoned mountain farms, Nedbergo (530 meters above the Aurlandsfjord, on the opposite side of Undredal) had more sun than the farms down by the fjord, and the people who lived there were quite wealthy. They had even reserved the front pews in Undredal Stave Church. They had to walk the steep trail down to the fjord and cross the Aurlandsfjord towards Undredal to go to church. If they were delayed due to weather or other conditions, the others waited until those from Nedbergo had arrived before the service could start.
Undredal Stave Church is still in use and is used both for services, baptisms and weddings.
Season: 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 Visit Undredal. See the official website for season and opening hours.
When you are in Undredal, we also recommend tasting the locally produced brown and white goat’s cheese made in Undredal, you can taste and buy the award-winning cheese at Underdalsbui.
Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord
Undredal is an idyllic little village down by the Aurlandsfjord which is known for the many goats and the local white and brown goat´s cheese. Undredal Stave Church in Undredal is Norway’s smallest church. In Undredal you will also find what is believed to be the smallest fire station in Europe.
Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord – What to See and Do
Flåm, Aurland and Gudvangen are perfect starting points for experiences in and around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, two of the world’s most beautiful and dramatic fjords that are also included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Join a fjord safari or a fjord cruise. See the fantastic view from Stegastein viewpoint and taste the local goat cheese in Undredal. Visit the Viking village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen and experience the history and culture of the Viking Age. Flåm Railway is the train journey from fjord to mountain, perhaps the most beautiful train journey in the world. Combine this train journey with cycling along Rallarvegen which goes from the high mountains via Flåmsdalen Valley to Flåm. Aurlandsdalen Valley is one of Norway’s most popular hikes. The Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord are both part of the 204 kilometer long Sognefjord which is located in the northern part of the county of Vestland, in the middle of Western Norway.
Accommodation in the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
Overview of where you can spend the night in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord.
Sakte – Stay and Explore the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
“Sakte” is a collaboration between companies that provide adventures, accommodation, dining and short-travelled food- and products. “Sakte” are located in the area around the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord and is an offer for those who want to contribute to a sustainable society in the world heritage area.
How to travel to the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord area
It is easy to travel to Flåm and Aurland, the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. Almost “all roads” go to Flåm and Aurland, and you can also travel there by train, bus and boat. It is only a short distance between the two neighboring villages of Flåm and Aurland.
You can start this fjord adventure by train from Oslo or Bergen to Myrdal station. Then you get to experience the Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen and Flåm Railway, one of Norway’s most spectacular railway lines, from Myrdal station to Flåm, which is located down by the Aurlandsfjord. If you take Flåm Railway, you get to experience the beautiful Flåmsdalen valley at the same time.
There are several daily bus departures between Oslo/Bergen and Flåm.
The nearest airport is Sogndal Airport at Haukåsen near Kaupanger. Most flights that go to and from Sogndal Airport come from and go to Oslo and Bergen. From the airport to Flåm, it is 70 kilometers by road, including a wonderful crossing of the Sognefjord by ferry.
References
Undredal Stave Church
Wikipedia
UNDREDAL – Useful Links
Tourist Info – Visit Undredal
The local store – Undredalsbui
Undredal Fjord Café – Undredal Brygge
Church – Undredal Stave Church
Local Goat Cheese – Undredal Stølsysteri
Flåm Travel Guide – About Undredal
FJORDS – Accommodation in Western Norway
Great Hotels in the Fjords of Norway
Bath and Spa Hotels in the Fjords of Norway
Fjords Living – Special Accommodation in the Fjords of Norway
FJORDS – Useful Links
Go Fjords – Big and Small Fjord Experiences
Visit Norway – Official page for Norway
Fjord Norway – Official page for Fjord Norway