Stave churches in Hallingdal

At the start, Hallingdal had seven stave churches. Today, Torpo Stave Church is the oldest and only original stave church left in Hallingdal. It is also the oldest building in Hallingdal.

Torpo Stave Church
This stave church was erected around 1160, and consecrated to St Margaret. The legend about her martyrdom decorates the baldachin in well-known paintings from the latter half 13th century. The church was built in the Borgund style with a raised space in the middle between the nave and the chancel.

In 1880, the chancel was demolished. The rest of the church was also going to be demolished, but the Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments purchased the nave to preserve it.

Guided groups tours can be arranged outside normal opening hours after agreement. Please contact Ål Tourist Information on +47 32 08 10 60 or post@alturistinfo.no or tlf. +47 57 67 88 40 / torpo@stavechurch.com

Gol Stave Church
Gol Stave Church, which is in the mediaval park Gordarike, is a true copy of the Gol stave church built in the 1200s. The copy was built in the 1980s and consecrated by the bishop of Tunsberg in 1994. In the summer evening on Wednesdays there is a devotional and sometimes musical performance. The church is often used for weddings.

The woodwork inside the church is still bright, and it is easy to spot all the beautiful carvings and details. Visit the church and be humbled by the mood you will be greeted by. Inside you can listen to the beautiful Gregorian choir music (cd). In the Viking Hall next to the exhibition you can study the stave church architecture. Same opening hours / entrance ticket as to the Gordarike Family Park.

Gol stave church (Gol stavkirke) is a stave church originally from Gol, Hallingdal, Norway. It is now located in the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History at Bygdøy in Oslo, Norway. When the city built a new church around 1880, it was decided to demolish the old stave church. It was saved from destruction by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments, which bought the materials in order to re-erect the church elsewhere. It was acquired by King Oscar II, who financed its relocation and restoration as the central building of his private open-air museum near Oslo. The restoration, overseen by architect Waldemar Hansteen, was completed in 1885. In 1907 this early open air museum, the world's first, was merged with the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, which now manages the stave church, still nominally the property of the reigning monarch. The church is dendrochronologically dated to 1212. In the 1980s, the modern replica was erected in Gol.

Hol Old Church
The old church is beautifully situated by Holsfjord, 15 minutes from Geilo. The church was originally a small stave church built in the 13th century, but it has been expanded several times. The first expansion happened around the 15th century, the timber with cog part, it is called. The second large expansion was around 1798-99.
The church living room: The biggest part of the two buildings that lies by the church was built in 1815.
The Priest living room: was built in 1844 to the priests on their official journeys to Hol.