Norway is the only country in Northern Europe with wooden churches from the Middle Ages still intact. These wooden churches, the stave churches, were once common in Northern Europe. It was probably built between 1000 and 2000 of these churches in Norway alone. Today there are only 28 of them left, and I visited one of them, the stave church in Lom, on my way to the west coast the other day.
It was a cold day in this mountain village called Lom, and I didn’t have time to stay. It was nobody around. No tourists in this time of the year, and the visitor center near by was also closed. The church is still used as a church, but otherwise it is open only in summer. It was still worthwhile visiting, because the building is very special. I have only been the once before, 14 years ago. The picture below is from that time, and it is made with my first digital camera (2 MP).
Bente Haarstad Photography 
These are so gorgeous! Thanks for posting!
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Thank you for commenting, Margaret.
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Beautiful shots. I wonder how it has survived the weather/environment so well.
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This church is in the dry, mountain region. That is one reason the church is well preserved for so long. And they had very good craftsmen then, who knew how to pick the best material from the woods. These days machines do the job, and they have none of these knowledge. Plus they impregnate the wood with tar, which made it durable against the elements. Thanks, Draco, now you even got a lecture. 😉
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Interesting. I appreciate it. 🙂
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What a beautiful place and gallery.I have never seen such a church! And the setting !!!!
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Yes, I think it is beautiful too, living history from the Viking age. Thanks, Vastlycurious.
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You are quite welcome Bente!
Kathryn
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I remember when I visited wooden “Kirkan” —– gosh, 40 years ago !
(I think, it was just outside of Oslo —– Folklore Park ? where old wooden houses were kept. )
—– 2Meg Photos are still quite good isn’t it !
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I know the place you are thinking about I guess, Norsk Folkemuseum (http://www.norskfolkemuseum.no/en/). Haven’t been there for a very long time too, gosh! And I was surprised to see my old photo from the 2MP, I even looked at it on a 27″ screen, which I certainlyd didn’t have at the time the picture was taken. Thanks Yoshi.
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Exquisite photos, thank you.
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Thank you, Jet Eliot.
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Amazing.
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I kind of think so too, Allen, about the church.
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Beautiful Captures:)
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This church is beautiful. It is wonderful that it has survived for so long. I have seen a wooden church in Finland, but I don’t think it was quite as old as this one.
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Spectacular architecture and what a thrilling step back in time. Beautiful shots Bente!
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It really is beautiful, and in such good condition. Your photos always make me want to visit Norway!
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These are impressive buildings! Beautiful photos of them too.
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What a gorgeous building!!!
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norway is beautiful, so green and so natural with his landscapes. I visited ten years ago and I remember those places the wooden churches. a craftsman masterpiece. all built with as the ship from the nortmen (vichinghi). Superbe! (Sorry for my english!!)
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Very fine series, Bente!
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Yes, this church is so beautiful. I was there twice, but not inside. Maybe next time.
Ha en kjempeflott dag. 😉
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Love this. Thanks for the great post!
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I like the last photo. The architecture is awesome.
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Great photos. I love the details on the gables – they look like the mouths of dragons.
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Beautiful! I would love to see the interior…. I have visited Wooden Churches in Romania, most interesting…
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Wow. Thank you for sharing te beautiful history of Norway with your wonderful and great pictures!
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One of great places to visit, your photographs are amazing. Thank you dear Bente, I felt myself there… Love, nia
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Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for stopping to give us a closer look at this historic stave church. I was saddened to hear about the fire that devastated another historic area of Norway http://rt.com/news/norwegian-village-fire-destroyed-860/ . Apparently the stave church there, which dates from 1180, was not damaged in that terrible fire.
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Fascinating church, beautiful photographs Bente!
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Thank you for that! Many years ago I went to see one of these beautiful wooden churches, somewhere outside Oslo, I forget the name. It is such interesting architecture and I love the way light and shadow change on the roof tops as one walks around the church. We have a more modern example of timber-built Norwegian churches here in Cardiff. It got a much-needed make-over and renovations last year and is now looking as lovely as ever, guarding Cardiff Bay.
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Beautiful and magical.
It looks like something out of a fairytale.
I hope those remaining 28 churches stay preserved and maintained – just goes to show what magnificent builders the Norwegians were/are. And more importantly, what superb wood comes from your trees.
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Reblogged this on The Tale of A Fleur-Di-Lis Cowgirl and commented:
How amazing! I can’t believe these stave churches have been around since the Middle Ages, must put on my bucket list.
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wonderful pix, as usually… been there twice… I LOVE and I MISS NORWAY, Bente! 🙂 tusen takk for liking my humble posts…
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These are gorgeous photos as usual! Remarkable architecture and how lovely to capture the endurance of the wood. I love the shingled roofs. Truly beautiful.
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I live in the Southwestern US where ‘old’ means 100 years. Of course, there are Native Ameerican sites that are much older, but they are not made of wood and are usually not nearly as old as this beautiful church.
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A beautiful church Bente, never have I see a church like this before, and also beautiful photos ofcourse!
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How interesting!
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An amazing building with such a beautiful, individual style of architecture – so unlike anything I’ve seen in any European country I have visited.
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I love the old stave architecture. Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.
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What an amazing church! Really lovely. Would have loved to see the inside, so you have to go back in the summer 😉
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So striking in its appearance with all the carved details ! It has weathered beautifully .Lovely photos … thinking about the past captures I wouldn’t think any of my photos from 14 yrs ago would stand up to looking at again like this Bente Lol
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Amazing!
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Fantastic those wooden church.
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Jeg elsker de stavkirker! Dejlige billeder, Bente 🙂
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Incredibly beautiful! It is amazing that Church has been standing so long, they must take such good care of the wood.
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Beautiful images, Bente. You have really been able to captured the spiritual essence of those old stave churches. My favourite picture is the double exposure (?) of the roof and details.
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Beautiful shots Bente!
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I love the Architecture, especially the detailed carving along the ridge lines of the roofs.
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Such a shame so few are left–and therefore all the more wonderful that you’ve photographed them to share with all of us!
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Hi Bent, your photo’s are allways fantastic, this church is so beautiful.
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amazing place!
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Hello Bente,
Que cette série est belle. J’adore le bois, la pierre, l’ambiance. Merci pour ce partage. Bon week-end, Val
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Totally fascinating. Never heard about stave churches before. They seem almost uncannily linked to their landscape. Would love to see them.
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Beautiful photos Bente. Such a fascinating place that you call home!
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What gorgeous architecture Bente! And your photos are so clear I feel like I’m there. 🙂
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Nooooooooooooooh, Mr. Bente Haarstad , Thank you very much. very beautiful pictures and very beautiful churches. If you ever have a chance to go to Russia and see churches there, I think you will not be disappointed. One time I will put on my blog some picture – especially of my favourite place.. Mari
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Construcciones magníficas… ideales para el recreo de tus hermosas fotografías. Saludos, Bente.
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How beautiful! The roof finials almost seem oriental! Great shots Bente.
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Now you make me feel very homesick again. And it’s more than 30 years ! 🙂 that I saw this beautiful stavkirke the last time. Gorgeous impressions, Bente. Takk skal du ha! 🙂
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I assume that fire destroyed many of these wooden churches over the centuries.
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Such beauty!
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For a moment I thought I was looking at Thai architecture of Buddhist temples! Whoa! Maybe the artists who did this were commissioned by the Kingdom in Thailand?!! Maybe?!!
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Beautiful images as always and with a dash of colour
Andy
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Beautiful architecture. Un abrazo.
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I’ve never been to the stave church in Lom, but I would love to visit. Actually it would have been interesting to visit all of the stave churches in Norway, plus the one that was moved to Poland. I have a few posts about stave churches: http://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/category/stave-churches/
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Me too, I want to see all the stave churces, and the one in Poland. They are living history, art and craftsmanship. Thanks, Guzman.
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