Stave Churches (Stavkirker)
The stave churches are Norway's unique contribution to world architecture — medieval wooden churches found nowhere else on Earth. Of the over 1,000 that once existed, only 28 remain, all in Norway. They were built between around 1100 and 1350 and combine Christian architecture with Viking-era carvings: dragon heads, intertwined animal motifs, runes.
The Most Beautiful Stave Churches
- Urnes Stavkirke (Sogn og Fjordane): The oldest surviving stave church (circa 1130) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on the shore of the Lustrafjord, with unique carvings in the "Urnes style." Accessible by ferry from Solvorn.
- Borgund Stavkirke (Lærdal): The best-preserved and most photographed — an architectural masterpiece with dragon heads on the roof. On the old royal road between Oslo and Bergen.
- Heddal Stavkirke (Telemark): The largest surviving stave church with three naves — impressive in its size and beauty.
- Fantoft Stavkirke (Bergen): Burned down by a Satanist in 1992 and faithfully reconstructed. Symbolic of the significance of stave churches in Norwegian consciousness.
- Lom Stavkirke (Gudbrandsdal): Still used as an active church — worship in a 900-year-old wooden church.
💡 Tipp
Borgund and Urnes are the most impressive stave churches and can be easily incorporated into a fjord tour. Borgund is located on the E16 between Oslo and Bergen (Lærdal). Urnes requires a small detour by ferry — which is absolutely worth it. Admission: 80–120 NOK (7–10 €).
