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Stave churches are unique to Norway, and amongst the oldest
wooden buildings in the world. These beautiful historic buildings
are a surviving record of the intermingling of paganism and
Christianity in the Norwegian people as far aback as the 12th
century, and only about 30 originals of these unique structures
remain.
History
The stave churches that exist today are not the very first
to have been built in Norway. These are believed to have been
built in the 11th Century, but the design of construction
meant that they all rotted within 100 years. The design was
similar to those of the surviving stave churches, with the
essential difference in constructing that has meant these
slightly later buildings have lasted nearly 1000 years instead.
Things to see in the Stave churches
One of the most distinguishing features of these churches
is their ornate carvings, particularly around the door frames.
These carvings usually depict dragons, intertwining vines
and serrated leaves. These beautiful patterns are also found
inside the churches, but to a lesser extent, as the buildings
were typically dark inside, the only light coming from small
holes in the ceiling, making ornate decoration virtually pointless
in the gloominess. The carvings themselves have little relevance
to the religious purpose of the buildings, and appear to originate
from the animal carvings of the Viking age, some say they
even resemble an upturned Viking ship. These carvings have
come to be regarded some of the most unusual and attractive
traditional art work in Norway. The interiors of the buildings
are, in contrast to their external decoration, very simple.
They usually consist of just one large room, divided into
a nave and chancel by a simple screen wall, though some do
deviate from this pattern.
Highlights
The three most significant Stave churches, and most worth
a visit are:
- Urnes at Urnes near Sogndal in the Western Fjords,
is the oldest, and has been declared a UNESCO Heritage Site.
It has been standing since 1150, but the carvings on it are
more likely to originate from an even earlier church, which
stood on the same spot previously.
- Heddal, at Nottodden, is the largest, and just a
day trip from Oslo. It also features some traditional rose
painting on one of the interior walls, and extensive, attractive
carving throughout
- Borgund, also in the Western Fjords, is the most
visited and photographed of all 30 Stave churches, despite
being a long way from anywhere. This is because it is also
that has the greatest proportion of its original structure
intact, though many if its internal features have been replaced
over the years.
If you're just visiting Norway for a short break and don't
have time to make a special trip to see a Stave church, there
is also one in the Bygdoy Folk Museum in Oslo. |
