Borgund Stave Church
Overview
Right in the middle of deep valleys between the Norwegian fjords and the high mountains of Jotunheimen, Borgund Stave Church is a true ancient gem with rich middle age history.Description
Borgund Stave Church is located in the Lærdal municipality, not far from Norway's longest fjord, Sognefjord. It is a popular highlight that hikers along the King's Road (Kongevegen over Filefjell) can visit, but also very well accessible via E16 between Oslo and Bergen.
The church was built around 1180 and is one of Norway’s best-preserved medieval wooden churches. Its dark timber walls, steep layered roofs and carved dragon heads make it one of the country’s most distinctive historic buildings. The church was dedicated to the Apostle Andrew and has remained on the same site for more than 800 years.
Stave churches are named after the strong vertical wooden posts, or “staves”, that support their structure. They were mainly built during the Middle Ages and combine Christian architecture with traditional Norwegian craftsmanship and decorative elements influenced by the Viking Age.