Historic Norwegian Churches

Vestland county contains some of Norway's most significant religious architecture, ranging from 12th-century UNESCO-listed stave churches to 19th-century wooden parish buildings. This collection features the intricate dragon carvings of Borgund and Urnes alongside medieval stone structures like Vangskyrkja. These sites illustrate the region's transition from Norse-influenced craftsmanship to formal ecclesiastical styles, reflecting centuries of Norwegian cultural and religious history within the fjord landscapes.

Historic Norwegian Churches — Harita

zoetnet / CC BY 2.0

A

Borgund Stave Church

Borgund Stave Church is a former parish church initially of the Catholic Church and later the Church of Norway in Lærdal Municipality in…

Peter / CC BY-SA 2.0

B

Hopperstad Stave Church

Hopperstad Stave Church is a historic parish church of the Church of Norway in the village of Vikøyri in Vik Municipality in Vestland…

Truls Teigen / Public domain

C

Urnes Stave Church

Urnes Stave Church is a 12th-century stave church at Ornes, along the Lustrafjorden in the municipality of Luster in Vestland county,…

D

Vangskyrkja

A 13th-century stone church in Voss featuring thick medieval walls and a 17th-century Baroque altarpiece.

E

Tjugum kyrkje

Octagonal wooden parish church designed by Christian Heinrich Grosch and completed in 1863 on the shores of the Esefjorden.

Jim Nicholls / CC-BY-SA

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St. Olaf's Church, Balestrand

St. Olaf's Church is an Anglican church in the village of Balestrand in Sogndal Municipality in the county of Vestland in Norway.

G

Helgheim kyrkje

Long wooden church from 1877 situated in Jølster, built on a historic site used for worship since the Middle Ages.

H

Viksdalen kyrkje

Wooden cruciform church built in 1848, located in the Sunnfjord region and showcasing traditional 19th-century rural architecture.

I

Fjærland kyrkje

19th-century wooden church in Mundal, notable for its location near the Jostedalsbreen glacier and its simple Gothic Revival elements.

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Farnes kyrkje

Modern parish church completed in 1970, featuring a design that incorporates both concrete and wood to serve the community of Øvre Årdal.

Elbert Mol / CC-BY-SA

K

Kaupanger stavkyrkje

12th-century stave church in Sogndal, distinguished as the longest stave church in the Sogn region with 22 staves supporting the structure.

Atle Råsberg / CC BY-SA 3.0 no

L

Sør-Vågsøy Church

Sør-Vågsøy Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Kinn Municipality in Vestland county, Norway.

rheins / CC BY 3.0

M

Ullensvang kyrkje

Gothic stone church dating to approximately 1300, located in Lofthus with views over the Hardangerfjord.

Atle Råsberg / CC BY-SA 3.0 no

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Guddal kyrkje

Rectangular wooden parish church built in 1870, serving the rural community of Guddal in Fjaler municipality.

O

Eid Church

Eid Church is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Stad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway.