Five most beautiful stave churches in Norway

The beautiful stave churches are unique to Norway. The churches are centuries old and held up by wooden posts instead of glue. Between the 12th and 14th century, thousands of stave churches were spread across Europe, but now only 28 remain, all of them in Norway. 

These buildings range from large structures with towers and ornate Viking decorations to tiny churches where you have to duck to not bump into the ceiling. We have put together the most unique stave churches for you to visit on your vacation in Norway.

Urnes – Oldest stave church

This stave church is the oldest one still standing. It is also the only stave church that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church was built between 1129 and 1131. The church is said to be a unique example of Christian and Viking architecture being combined.

The Urnes stave church is open to the public every day for most of the year. Guided tours are also available, where you will gain greater insight into the history of the stave church.

Borgund – Most famous stave church

This stave church is probably the most iconic and famous one. It is incredibly well preserved since it is construction around 1180. The whole building is very detailed, including ornate dragon heads carved on the rooftops. Its exterior has a Viking look. 

You can visit the church any day of the week for most of the year. There is a visitor centre with information on stave churches, as well as a small gift shop.

The Borgund stave church is also close to the ‘Vindhellavegen’ a scenic part of the ‘Kongevegen’ (King’s Road), where you can go for a short hike to see this historical engineering masterpiece.

Undredal – Smallest stave church

In the small fjord village of Undredal, by the Nærøyfjord, stands the smallest stave church in Norway. Although it is not known when exactly it was built, it is at least 700 years old. Inside the church hangs a delicately carved chandelier with five carved animal heads.

The stave church is not the only reason to visit Undredal, as the small village of only 60 people also is famous for making goat cheese. You can buy some in the shop by the fjord.

Heddal – Biggest stave church

Standing 17 meters tall and 25 meters wide, the Heddal stave church is the largest one of its kind. Dating back to the 13th century, there are still services, baptisms, and weddings taking place during the summer months.

The Heddal stave church is open every day from May through September. Guided tours are also available, where you will learn more about the architecture.

Gol – Stave church in Oslo

While almost all Stave Churches are out in the countryside, the Gol Stave Church is located in Oslo. The church was built around the year 1200. In 1880 the entire building was broken down and reconstructed on the Bygdøy peninsula 4 years later. Now it is the highlight of the Norwegian museum of Cultural History in Bygdøy near Oslo.

The church and museum are open on most days throughout the year. While you are on the Bygdøy peninsula, visiting the other museums located here (like the Viking Ship, Kon-Tiki, Fram and Norwegian Maritime museum) is highly recommended.

A replica of the stave church can still be seen in Gol (Hallingdal).

The stave churches show Norway’s long and interesting history. With their intricate build and ornate decorations, most of them are worth a detour to visit while you are on your adventure through Norway. For an overview over all the stave churches in Norway click here. 

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