Stave churches in Norway

During the Middle Ages, immense stone cathedrals were constructed in many parts of Europe. In Norway, a similar technique was used for building in wood.

Viking handcraft

Thanks to the Vikings’ interest in boat construction and home building, the technique, and tradition of wood carving was further developed. The work culminated in the stave churches.

There are several types of stave churches, but what they all have in common are corner-posts (“staves”) and a framework of timber with wall planks standing on sills. These walls are known as stave walls, hence the name stave church.

Heddal, Notodden.
Photo: Johan Berge / Visitnorway.com

The churches’ wooden doors and finials are beautifully carved. The decorations feature an intriguing combination of Christian motifs and what is often assumed to be pre-Christian Viking themes with animals and dragons.

Open to the public

Today, 28 historical stave churches remain standing. As you can see in the map below, the majority of the churches are located in the inner parts of Eastern Norway and Fjord Norway.

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Three facts about stave churches

1. Researchers believe that there have been just under 2 000 stave churches in Norway. 28 of these are preserved.

2. Urnes Stave Church in Fjord Norway is the oldest of Norway’s stave churches. Urnes, which is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, was built around 1130.

3. Heddal Stave Church in Eastern Norway is the largest of the remaining churches. The building is 26 metres high, 20 metres long, and 16 metres wide.

Explore Norway’s stave churches

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Remaining stave churches

Borgund Stave church

Borgund Stave Church is a unique example of impressive medieval architecture and is a distinctive landmark on the tourist route to Lærdal. Read more

Borgund Stave church

Eidsborg Stave Church

Charming, small stave church. Located by West Telemark Museum in Eidsborg. Read more

Eidsborg Stave Church

Fantoft Stave Church

The old stave church was built in Fortun in Sogn in 1170 and moved to Fantoft in 1883. Fantoft Stave Church has now been rebuilt as it was before the… Read more

Fantoft Stave Church

Flesberg stave church

Flesberg stave church dating back to approximately 1150-1200, this church are famous for interior decorations. Church services are still held in the… Read more

Flesberg stave church

Garmo Stave Church

Located at the top of the hill near the entrance to Maihaugen Open Air Museum, the stave church is the most striking building at the museum. Read more

Garmo Stave Church

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… Read more

Gol Stave Church

Grip stave church

Grip Stave Church is located on Grip, a small island 14 km out to sea from Kristiansund on Nordmøre. There is a boat to Grip in the summer season from… Read more

Grip stave church

Hedalen Stave Church

The Hedalen Stave Church may be the oldest of its kind in Valdres today. It comprises an unusual amount of catholic items and among these a reliquary.… Read more

Hedalen Stave Church

Heddal Stave Church

Visit the magnificent Heddal Stave church in Notodden - the largest wooden stave church in Norway. Read more

Heddal Stave Church

Hegge Stave Church

The Hegge stave church dates back to 1216 and celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2016. The church is still in use as a parish church in the… Read more

Hegge Stave Church

Hopperstad Stave Church

The richly decorated Hopperstad stave church in Vik would have been lost but for the intervention of cultural conservationists, who managed to save it… Read more

Hopperstad Stave Church

Høre Stave Church

Høre Stave Church is rich in dragon and lion carvings from the Middle Ages, and among these are two beautiful portals. What used to be the… Read more

Høre Stave Church

Kaupanger Stave Church, Sogndal

Its size and numbers of posts is what makes Kaupanger stave church stand out from other stave churches, as well as its interior. Read more

Kaupanger Stave Church, Sogndal

Kvernes Stave Church

Experience Kvernes Stave Church in Kristiansund. This is Norway's only stave church built after the Middle Ages, in the period 1631 - 33. Read more

Kvernes Stave Church

Lom Stave Church

Lomskyrkja – the church in Lom - is one of the biggest and most beautiful stave churches in Norway. Read more

Lom Stave Church

Lomen Stave Church

Lomen Stave Church is believed to date back to around 1192. The oldest coin found is from King Sverre`s era 1177-1202. In 1750, the church was… Read more

Lomen Stave Church

Nore Stavkirke

Nore Stave Church Nore Stave Church is located in Nore and Uvdal municipality in Buskerud. Nore Stave Church was built according to an architectural… Read more

Nore Stavkirke

Reinli Stave Church

Reinli Stave Church dates back to around 1326. Prior to this, the site has been home to two other churches. The only remains left of the first… Read more

Reinli Stave Church

Ringebu Stave Church

Ringebu Stave Church dates back to around 1220, and is one of the country's 28 remaining buildings of its kind. Read more

Ringebu Stave Church

Rollag Stave church

Rollag Stave Church The church is located a few kilometres north of the centre of the village Rollag. It was probably originally built in second half… Read more

Rollag Stave church

Rødven Stave Church

Rødven Stave Church is beautifully situated by the Romsdalsfjord with the Romsdal Alps in the background, 34 km outside Åndalsnes center and well… Read more

Rødven Stave Church

Røldal stave church

Røldal stave church is the most important tourist attraction in the rural parts of Røldal. The church has a lot of visitors because of its special… Read more

Røldal stave church

The old Ål Stave Church site

Ål Stave church was erected around 1170 and demolished in 1880. The stave churches are a wooden building with a carrying construction of poles.… Read more

The old Ål Stave Church site

Torpo Stave Church Ål in Hallingdal

Torpo stave church, Ål i Hallingdal. Read more

Torpo Stave Church Ål in Hallingdal

Undredal Stave church

Undredal Church is built as a stave church in 1147 and was called St. Nicholas Chapel. The church has white clapboard sidings and is the smallest in… Read more

Undredal Stave church

Urnes Stave Church

Urnes Stave Church , the oldest of Norway's stave churches, is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List. It was built around 1130 AD, but the… Read more

Urnes Stave Church

Uvdal Stave Church

Uvdal Stave Church, as it stands today, does not have its original appearance but is a result of steady expansion and modifications until the 1800s.… Read more

Uvdal Stave Church

Ål Stave Church Museum

The Ål Stave Church dated from the latter part of the 12th century was richly decorated at the time of its demolition in 1880. The main doorway… Read more

Ål Stave Church Museum

Øye Stave Church

Øye Stave Church was probably built towards the end of the 1100s. its original location was in the fields facing Vangsmjøsa. This was an… Read more

Øye Stave Church

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