Fortidsminneforeningen

Urnes Stave Church

Photo: Birger Lindstad/NIKU.

Facts

Urnes Stave Church lies in Luster Municipality in Sogn og Fjordane County. A map showing the location of all of Fortidsminneforeningens properties in the county may be found here.

History and practical information

Urnes boasts Norway's oldest stave church, dated to the beginning of the 1130s. The unique value of the Urnes Stave Church is reflected in its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

When the 12th-century church was built, material was recycled from an even older church, probably from the late 11th century. The unique north door with carvings in what art historians call the Urnes Style is one of Norway's most important architectural treasures. The church is unusually richly decorated, including a very valuable Romanesque Calvary group.

The posts in the central part of the nave have richly-decorated capitals, one of whose motifs has been adopted as the Society's symbol.

Read more about the church on the website of Fortidsminneforeningen's Sogn og Fjordane branch here: http://www.stavechurch.com/.

For season, opening hours and prices, click here.

Guided tours can be booked from Mrs. Marit B©ªen, + 47 57 68 39 45. Outside the season the Sogn og Fjordane branch can be contacted on + 47 57 67 88 40, fax + 47 57 67 88 89 or e-mail sognogfjordane@fortidsminneforeningen.no.

Fortidsminneforeningen collaborates with Munthehuset to offer accommodation to people visiting Urnes Stave Church. Munthehuset is the manor house at Ytre Kroken, five kilometres from the stave church. You can visit its own website here: www.munthehuset.no.