One of the most foreboding or brooding-looking church designs in Europe may be the stave churches of Norway. These are medieval wooden Christian churches which were once common around northwestern Europe. Today most of the surviving stave churches come in Norway with simply several newer stave churches found outside the country.
Norway is a stunning country that's famous for its Viking history, its mind-bending stunning fjords (that everybody must see), as well as for having the northernmost a part of Europe deep in the Arctic Circle called Nordkapp. There is a lot to determine and do in this northern European country and it is ancient unique stave churches are just another attraction to increase the bucket list.
Options to consider Concerning the Brooding Stave Churches
Stave Churches are a particular kind of wooden church which was once common in Norway and the surrounding region 800 years back. These churches are testaments to the Viking tradition of wood carving.
The Vikings long were built with a keen curiosity about boat construction and residential building and after they converted to Christianity they transferred their skills into building these unique churches.
There are some types of stave churches, but the things they all have in keeping are corner posts (“staves”) and a framework of timber with wall planks standing on sills.
Similar constructions are known of other buildings in the Viking Age. In Norway alone, it is believed that the country once had around 1,000 with more modern research estimating up to 2,000 stave churches. Today, only 28 medieval stave churches remain in Norway.
- Name: From “Strafr” In Old Norse (Stav In Modern Norwegian) Talking about A Load Bearing ore-pine Post Used In your building
Today most of the surviving state churches were built between 1150 and 1350 with older churches from the 1100s mostly known from written sources or archaeological evidence. At this time, masonry churches were also built in Norway (271 are known to have been built) and around 160 masonry churches still exist today.
Masonry churches were popular in Norway's Scandinavian neighbors because there are 900 masonry churches in Sweden and 1800 in Denmark.
While most surviving stave churches are to be found in Norway, there are isolated examples in Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany.
Borgund Stave Church – The very best Preserved Stave Church
The best-preserved stave church in Norway is the Borgund Stave Church within the Laerdal Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. Since 1868 it's been a museum and no longer functions as a church (it was even at risk of demolition in 1877).
- Built: Around 1180
- Address:Vindhella 606,6888BORGUND
It was built around 1180 and was dedicated to the Apostle Andrew. It's both exceptionally well preserved and is the most distinctive stave church in Norway. You are able to because of its lavishly carved portals and also the crosses and carvings of dragon's heads around the roofs.
Today the Borgund Stave Church also offers a Visitor Center that features an exhibit on the good reputation for stave churches in Norway, as well as a restaurant and souvenir shop. Guided tours are also offered.
But it's not just the Borgund Stave Church, the surrounding area is in historic cultural heritage. It is a great position for hiking with one historic path there considered “Norway's most breathtaking road” through the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in 2022.
- Open: Daily
- Hours: 10.00 am to five.00 pm (can vary seasonally)
- Fee: 100 Norwegian Krone ($11) Per Adult
- Guided tours: Offered
Gol Stave Church – Rebuilt Stave Church In Olso
If the first is looking for the best impressive stave church to go to while in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, consider the Gol Stave Church. The Gol Stave Church was originally built in Gol (another a part of Norway) and was moved and rebuilt in Olso.
It was originally built around 1200 but was due for replacement around 1880. It was purchased and given to the Norwegian King Oscar II. The king then taken care of its re-erection in 1884 and was rebuilt to look like it was thought to have looked like in the 1200s. Where there were missing parts of the building, inspiration was sucked from Borgund Stave Church.
- Built: Circa 1200
When it was first built, Norway was catholic, but later became Lutheran Protestant throughout the Reformation. Throughout the catholic times, the church was most likely decorated with colorfully painted saints. Following the Reformation, many of the fixtures were removed and replaced.
There are numerous runic inscriptions and carvings dated towards the early Dark ages within the church. Most of the carvings are in the chancel and show animal figures, humans, and geometric symbols. There's also a few examples of preserved Luthern church art in the form of wall paintings from 1652.
Today it is one of many attractions at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum) in Oslo.
- Open: Daily
- Fee: 160 Norwegian Krone ($18) Per Adult
- Opening Hours: 11.00 am to 4.00 pm (May vary seasonally)
- Guided tours: Offered
