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Stave churches - a fascinating cultural heritage

Last updated: 30.01.2024
Hopperstad stavkirke|© Øyvind Heen - fjords.com

Stave churches are considered to be among the most important examples of wooden Medieval architecture in Europe.

In the Middle Ages, there were probably more than 1,000 stave churches in Norway. Today, only 28 remain, including Urnes stave church, which is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

En gruppe mennesker som står foran Urnes stavkirke med fjorden i bakgrunnen
Urnes stave church|© Terje Rakke / Nordic Life AS
Urnes stavkyrkje

Urnes Stave Church

Urnes Stave Church , the oldest of Norway's stave churches, is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

A stave church is made of wood, and the construction is made out of poles ("staver" in Norwegian), hence the name. Most of the remaining stave churches in Norway were built between 1150 and 1350. In the middle ages there were similar types of churches all over North-Western Europe. In Norway there was a tradition for using wood in artwork as well as in constructions, and this lead to the development of a unique technique that the stave churches are a perfect example of. The decoration is a fascinating mix of both Christian and viking symbolism.

Due to the Black Death and the reformation, many stave churches disappeared. In 1650 there were around 270 stave churches left, and during the next 100 years 136 of them disappeared as well. Today only 28 of them remain - many in Fjord Norway.

Norway's oldest stave church is Urnes stave church in Luster in the Sognefjord area. The church from around 1130 is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and belonged to a rich family. It is richly decorated.

Borgund stave church in Lærdal (around 1180), also in the Sognefjord area, is the most visited and most photographed church. It is also the stave church that has been the best preserved, and several runic inscriptions have been found on the walls of the church.

Borgund Stavkyrkje

Borgund Stave church

Borgund Stave Church is a unique example of impressive medieval architecture and is a distinctive landmark on the tourist route to Lærdal.

En stavkirke omgitt av grønn skog, med noen gravstøtter foran.
Borgund stave church|© Sverre Hjørnevik

Other stave churches in the region

Grip stavkirke

Grip stave church

Grip Stave Church is located on Grip, a small island 14 km out to sea from Kristiansund on Nordmøre. There is a boat to Grip in the summer season from Kristiansund, and the trip out takes 1 hour each way.

Hopperstad Stavkyrkje

Hopperstad Stave Church

The richly decorated Hopperstad stave church in Vik would have been lost but for the intervention of cultural conservationists, who managed to save it just in the nick of time.

Kaupanger Stave Church

Kaupanger Stave Church, Sogndal

Its size and numbers of posts is what makes Kaupanger Stave Church stand out from other stave churches, as well as its interior.

Kvernes stavkirke

Kvernes Stave Church

Experience Kvernes Stave Church in Averøy, a 30 min drive from Kristiansund and The Atlantic Road. This is Norway's only stave church built after the Middle Ages, in the period 1631 - 33.

Rødven stavkirke

Rødven Stave Church

Rødven Stave Church is one of the oldest stave churches in Norway. The church is beautifully situated by the Rødvenfjord between Molde and Åndalsnes.

Røldal Stavkyrkje skin om kapp med sola på sommarstid.

Røldal Stave Church

The Røldal stave church was built around 1200 and is known for its crucifix, which according to legend has healing powers. The church is centrally located in Røldal and was one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Norway in the Middle Ages, and even until 1835.

Undredal Stavkyrkje

Undredal Stave church

Undredal Church is built as a stave church in 1147 and was called St. Nicholas Chapel. The church has white clapboard sidings and is the smallest in Scandinavia in regular use.