Stave Churches of Jotunheimen
Explore the preserved medieval wooden Christian churches in Jotunheimen.
The Norwegian stave churches are the oldest preserved wooden churches in Christianity and an important part of Norway’s architectural heritage.
There were once more than 1,300 of these wonders, but sadly, they disappeared, one by one replaced by bigger modern churches. There are only 28 stave churches in Norway today, some of them also in Jotunheimen. Breathe in the scent of tarred wood when you step inside, and look for signs of the Norse gods, that often coexist with the Christian God in the oldest churches.
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MAP OF STAVE CHURCHES AROUND JOTUNHEIMEN
A stave church is a medieval wooden Christian church building. The name is derived from the buildings’ structure of post and lintel construction which is a type of timber framing, where the load-bearing posts are called stafr in Old Norse and stav in Norwegian. Two related church building types are also named for their structural elements, the post church and palisade church, but are often also called stave churches.
Lom Stave Church is one of the biggest and most beautiful stave churches in Norway. It dates back to the 12th century and is still in use. The church is closed during church services. The church in Vågå is also worth a visit.
In and around the Jotunheimen national park you can find several interesting stave churches:
Lom Stavkyrkje
Lom Stave Church (Norwegian: Lom stavkyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Lom municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the village of Fossbergom in the traditional district of Gudbrandsdal. It is the church for the Lom parish which is part of the Nord-Gudbrandsdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar. The brown, wooden stave church was built around the year 1170 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 350 people.
The church is a triple nave stave church that uses free standing inner columns to support a raised section in the ceiling of the main nave. This type of church is amongst the oldest of the Norwegian stave churches. The church was built in a valley off of the main Gudbrandsdalen valley, about 60 kilometers (37 mi) west of Otta. This stave church is one of a very few remaining stave churches where the original medieval crest with a dragon head still survives. This item was removed from the church in the 1950s and replaced with a copy, and the original is now in a museum.
MAP HERE
Hegge Stavkyrkje
Hegge Stave Church (Norwegian: Hegge stavkyrkje) is a 13th-century stave church in Norway. It is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Øystre Slidre Municipality in Innlandet county. It is located in the village of Hegge. It is the church for the Hegge parish which is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar. The brown, wooden church was built in a long church design around the year 1216 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 150 people.
Høre Stavkyrkje
Høre Stave Church (Norwegian: Høre stavkyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Vang Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the village of Kvien. It is the church for the Høre parish which is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar. The brown, wooden church was built in a long church design around the year 1179 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 170 people.
Borgund Stavkyrkje
Borgund Stave Church (Norwegian: Borgund stavkyrkje) is a former parish church initially of the Catholic Church and later the Church of Norway in Lærdal Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It was built around the year 1200 as the village church of Borgund, and belonged to Lærdal parish (part of the Sogn prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin) until 1868, when its religious functions were transferred to a "new" Borgund Church, which was built nearby. The old church was restored, conserved and turned into a museum. It is funded and run by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments, and is classified as a triple-nave stave church of the Sogn-type. Its grounds contain Norway's sole surviving stave-built free-standing bell tower.
Lomen Stavkyrkje
Lomen Stave Church (Norwegian: Lomen stavkyrkje) is a stave church of the Church of Norway in Vestre Slidre Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the village of Lomen. It was formerly the church for the Lomen parish which is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar. The brown, wooden church was built in a long church design around the year 1192 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 150 people.
Reinli Stavkyrkje
Reinli Stave Church (Norwegian: Reinli stavkyrkje) is a preserved parish church of the Church of Norway in Sør-Aurdal Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the village of Reinli. It is the former church for the Reinli parish which is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar. The brown, wooden church was built in a long church design around the year 1300 using plans drawn up by an unknown architect. The church seats about 70 people.
Øye Stavkyrkje
Øye Stave Church (Norwegian: Øye stavkyrkje) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Vang Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the village of Øye. It is one of the churches for the Øye parish which is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar. The brown, wooden stave church was built in a long church design in 1965 using plans drawn up by the architect Ole Øvergaard using pieces salvaged from the old 12th century church that had originally been torn down in 1747. The church seats about 30 people.
Urnes Stavkyrkje
Urnes Stave Church (Norwegian: Urnes stavkyrkje) is a 12th-century stave church at Ornes, along the Lustrafjorden in the municipality of Luster in Vestland county, Norway.
The church sits on the eastern side of the fjord, directly across the fjord from the village of Solvorn and about five kilometres (3 mi) east of the village of Hafslo. It is among the oldest stave churches in Norway, with parts of the lumber construction dating from the latter half of the 11th century.[1] The church was built in a long church basilica plan inspired by medieval Christian churches, with cylindrical columns and semi-circular arches inside. The decoration on capitals of the columns and outside of the church embodies the visual evidence of the Viking culture’s transformation, assimilation, and adoption of Christianity. The north portal of the church is defined as the Urnes style, which contains decorations derived from Norwegian mythology dating back to the 12th century.
It has been owned by Fortidsminneforeningen (Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments) since 1881. In 1979, the Urnes Stave Church was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Hedalen Stavkyrkje
Hedal Stave Church, or Hedal Stavkyrkje, is one of Norway's oldest and largest stave churches, located in the peaceful forested region of Valdres. Originally constructed around the 12th century, the church has a rich history interwoven with local legends. According to one story, the church was rediscovered by hunters who followed a deer and stumbled upon the forgotten, overgrown structure deep in the forest.
The church’s architecture is a beautiful example of Norway’s medieval stave construction, with its towering, dark-timbered walls and steep, shingled roof that give it a characteristic Norse appearance. Despite undergoing restorations, the Hedal Stave Church has preserved much of its original design and charm, including intricate carvings of dragons and floral motifs, typical of medieval Norwegian artistry. Inside, visitors can explore well-preserved artifacts, including 13th-century wall paintings, a Gothic pulpit, and an altar with painted panels depicting biblical scenes. The wooden altar itself dates back to the Middle Ages and stands as a testament to Norway's long Christian heritage.
Hedal Stave Church remains an active parish church, blending religious significance with cultural heritage, and continues to attract visitors for both its historical and spiritual atmosphere.
Kaupanger Stavkyrkje
Kaupanger Stave Church, built around 1140, is the third church on this site and stands out for its simple design with only 22 posts, covering 102 square meters and seating 165 people. Unlike many stave churches, it has fewer wall carvings, creating a heightened sense of space, often earning it the title of a "cathedral among stave churches." The first church here was built between 1000 and 1050, soon after Christianity began spreading in Norway, partly due to Norwegian kings like Olav Haraldsson, whose forceful methods contributed significantly to Christianization. The church remains active as a parish church and has historical ties to Kaupanger Manor, where archaeological evidence traces habitation back to 1800 BC, indicating it was once among the region's larger farms.
Hopperstad Stavkyrkje
Hopperstad Stave Church was built around 1130, and significantly renovated in 1877. It is considered one of the oldest stave churches still in existence.
This church as endured periods of decay and went through rigorous renaissance in the 1880’s by the architect Peter Blix, brought about by cultural conservationists. The restoration was heavily inspired by similar churches such as Borgund. It is today owned by National Trust of Norway (Fortidsminneforeningen).
Hopperstad Stave Church is the only church where the original narrow chancel opening is preserved. In the Middle Ages, openings with small arches were added on either side of the narrow chancel arch.
Vågå Stavkyrkje
Vågå Stave Church, located in Oppland, Norway, is one of the country’s oldest wooden churches, originally built around 1150. Though classified as a stave church, it was extensively remodeled in the 1600s, giving it a unique cruciform shape that blends medieval and Renaissance elements. The interior is decorated with intricate wood carvings and painted panels, including a 1600s altarpiece and Viking-inspired dragon-head carvings on the roof, symbolizing Norway’s shift from paganism to Christianity. The surrounding churchyard contains historic gravestones, and the church remains an active parish and valued cultural landmark in Norway.