Borgund Stave Church in Norway
The exceptional Borgund Stave Church is a prime vacationer attraction in Norway. Constructed someday between 1180 and 1200, this medieval Borgund stavkyrkje (Norwegian) is likely one of the finest preserved stave church buildings in Norway. Some would say it’s a nationwide treasure.
When mapping our Norway highway journey itinerary, visiting this distinctive relic was excessive on our checklist. The Borgund Stave Church will not be on the usual Norway in a Nutshell route, so it requires further driving (except it’s included as a part of an organized tour of Norway).
This straightforward, but elegant, black wood church is now not used for church capabilities. It’s now a museum run by the Society for the Preservation of Historical Norwegian Monuments.
It rained throughout our go to to Borgund Stave Church, which was a theme throughout our Norway highway journey. Whereas I’d have most popular sunny blue skies, there’s one thing in regards to the misty mountains and damp ambiance that provides to the expertise.
Norway Stave Church buildings
A stave church is a medieval wood Christian church constructed with ‘staves’, or thick wood posts. They’re considered one of Norway’s oldest preserved timber buildings and its most vital contribution to world structure. Many of those constructions had been constructed utilizing the identical woodworking expertise because the Vikings, with crafted joints and no nails or glue.
It’s stated there have been over 1,000 stave church buildings in Norway earlier than the Black Loss of life contaminated Norway in 1350. Some historians imagine there could have been over 2,000 stave church buildings in Norway at its peak, earlier than the Reformation in 1537.
Immediately, solely 28 stave church buildings stay in Norway. The vast majority of these historic church buildings are situated within the Fjords and southeast Norway. Here’s a detailed map of Norway stave church buildings.
The church has related Nordic carvings as discovered on Viking ships. There are 4 dragon heads on the prime of the steeple on the gable ridges. Borgund is likely one of the solely stave church buildings to have preserved its crested ridge caps. The roof and siding seems as if may very well be dragon scales.
The outdated Borgund Stave Church cemetery situated instantly beside the church.
The graveyard that surrounds Borgund Stave Church remains to be lively at this time. We witnessed just a few freshly buried grave websites with recent flowers. A number of the tombstones date again tons of of years.
Borgund stave church inside
The within of the wood church is easy. It’s not very huge. I’d think about solely 15-20 individuals can slot in there at one time.
There’s a individual contained in the church that factors a flashlight for visitors. As a result of there isn’t a electrical energy contained in the church, you want this flashlight to see the within of Borgund stave church.
The Borgund altar pictured above is fascinating. Easy, like the remainder of the constructing’s options.
Borgund New Church
The Borgund Church, or Borgund kyrkje in Norwegian, is the large crimson church situated beside the unique black wood stave church.
We weren’t capable of enter this church throughout our go to. There was a ‘moist paint’ signal on the door, so I’m undecided if it’s usually open to the general public? If you realize, please go away us a remark beneath.
Borgund Stave Church Guests Centre
The Borgund Stave Church Guests Heart gives exhibitions in regards to the historical past of stave church buildings in Norway and their position within the Center Ages.
Essential – you will need to buy a ticket on the customer centre earlier than strolling to the stave church. Technically you may drive previous the church slowly on the highway in entrance of the church, however that’s not why you travelled all the best way to Norway, proper?
The customer centre has a café, washrooms and public parking. It’s open every day from April to October.
When you are right here, if the climate is good, mix a stroll to close by Vindhellavegen and The Filefjell Kongevegen (The King’s Highway in English). Extra data right here.
Reveals contained in the Borgund Stave Church Customer Centre. It’s not very huge. You solely want 15-Half-hour.
The best way to get to Borgund Stave Church
Borgund Stave Church Customer Centre is situated at Vindhellavegen 621, 6888 Borgund.
The best solution to get to Borgund stave church is by automobile. Nevertheless, there’s a bus that departs from Flam. The space from Flam to the Customer Centre is about 60 km.
The principle freeway is E16. The exit is simply earlier than the Borgundstunnelen if you’re driving west. Alternatively, if you’re driving east from Lærdal, Aurlandsvangen or Flam, the exit is simply after the tunnel.
When you exit the E16, drive south on 630. This highway takes you to the customer centre parking zone.
We really missed the turnoff and needed to backtrack. Our automobile GPS had hassle selecting up the situation. We got here from Hemsedal through the 52 freeway (driving west) and prematurely exited E16 once we noticed indicators for Borgund. This isn’t the place the church is situated. Proceed driving east by means of the Laerdalsvegen Tuftastunnel for about 10 minutes.
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Extra Stave church buildings in Norway
There are 28 stave church buildings in Norway at this time. Some are straightforward to go to, whereas others are discovered in additional distant areas. You would possibly solely have time to go to just a few stave church buildings on you Norway highway journey, so do your analysis.
The most well-liked stave church buildings in Norway are:
- Heddal Stave Church (Heddal stavkirke) is Norway’s largest stave church. It’s situated in in Vestfold og Telemark county.
- Urnes Stave Church (Urnes stavkyrkje) is situated alongside the Lustrafjorden within the municipality of Luster in Vestland county. In 1979, the Urnes Stave Church was listed as a World Heritage Website by UNESCO.
- Fantoft Stave Church (Fantoft stavkyrkje) is a reconstructed stave church situated south of town of Bergen.
- Gol Stave Church was initially inbuilt Gol however has since been relocated to the Norwegian Museum of Cultural Historical past at Bygdøy in Oslo.
- Garmo Stave Church (Garmo stavkyrkje) is situated contained in the Maihaugen Museum in Lillehammer (host metropolis of the 1994 Olympic Winter Video games). It’s one of the visited stave church buildings in Norway.
- Lom Stave Church (Lomskyrkja) is likely one of the greatest and most stunning stave church buildings in Norway (see photograph above and beneath).
Try this interactive map of Norway’s stave church buildings.
Above and beneath are totally different views of Lom Stave Church, situated within the city of Lom.
Above and beneath are images of Gol Stave Church, also called Oslo Stave Church. Initially from the normal area of Hallingdal (Gol), this reconstructed church is now situated within the Norwegian Museum of Cultural Historical past at Bygdøy in Oslo, Norway.
Above is a photograph of Garmo Stave Church in Lillehammer, Norway.
Learn extra posts from our Norway highway journey:
Have you ever visited a Stave Church in Norway?
If not, would you add Borgund Stave Church to your Norway journey itinerary? Depart us a remark beneath when you have questions on visiting this in style Norway vacationer attraction.
