Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen
Urnes Stave Church – Norway’s oldest and most highly decorated stave church. Three churches have preceded todays church at Ornes. A hundred years would pass between the first and the fourth, the one we can visit today dates to around 1130.
On the long northern wall, magnificent original decorated sections from the third church have been incorporated.
Inside the church there are visible signs of the adaptation the church has gone through during the centuries to conform to the changes in religious and practical needs.
Som of the major points of interest are:
- A group of figures from the 12th century, the oldest in the country, depicting the scene at Golgotha: Jesus suffering on the cross and Mary and John as grieving witnesses.
- The altar baldachin or ceremonial canopy – a ciborium altar dating back to 1699.
- The richly decorated staves that form the framework for the elevated central space. The capitals (cushion capitals) are modelled on contemporary stone churches.
In 1979 Urnes Stave Church was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Opening hours
The church is open every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:30 AM - 5:45 PM
Tickets
Contact info
Urnes stavkyrkje
413 94 821
urnes@stavechurch.com
Facts about the church
Year of construction: 1130
Municipality: Luster
Diocese: Bjørgvin
Address: Ornes 104, 6870 ORNES
Guided tours: Yes
Food and beverages available: No
Accessibility
Parking: No
HC parking: No
Toilets: Yes
HC toilets: No
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