These completely wooden medieval churches can be found only in Norway. They’re absolutely amazing!
There’s no need to love architecture in order to admire unique beauty of Norwegian wooden churches.
Although in the past completely wooden stave churches were widespread, today these amazing religious buildings can be seen only in Norway (except for one church in Sweden).
Stave church (stavkyrkje) is one of the first varieties of churches that began to be erected in Scandinavia. Today, there are only 29 medieval churches left. The following few preserved better than the others.
Hopperstad Stave Church
Photo: Sandra Fauconnier/flickr (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Photo: Micha L. Rieser [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons
Borgund Stave Church
Photo: Micha L. Rieser [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons
Lom Stave Church
Photo: Micha L. Rieser [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Micha L. Rieser [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons
Urnes Stave Church
Photo: Micha L. Rieser [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: pixabay.com (CC0 Creative Commons)
Heddal Stave Church — the largest one preserved in Norway
Photo: Micha L. Rieser [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons
Reinli Stave Church
Photo: John Erling Blad (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Fantoft Stave Church
Photo: Micha L. Rieser [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons
Eidsborg Stave Church
Øye Stave Church
Photo: Bernt Rostad/flickr (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Stave churches are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There’s no doubt that so ancient buildings will not leave anyone indifferent. And it is another wonderful reason to visit Norway!
Preview: By Eduardo [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons,
Micha L. Rieser [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons