Theme: The stave churches around The Sognefjord
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Theme: The stave churches around The Sognefjord
- Route: E16/“Historic route” Borgund – highway 5 Kaupanger stave church - highway 55 then turn off to Solvorn. Ferry Solvorn – Urnes – Solvorn via Sogndal to Hella, ferry to Vangsnes, highway 13 to Hopperstad stave church and Hove stone church.
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This cultural heritage route is easiest by car, but it is also possible by public transport. Allow an extra day if using public transport.
This is also available as an organised tour, 21-23 May 2009: “Cultural Cruise on the Sognefjord”. We will cruise around the Sognefjord from stave church to stave church by boat. The programme is still being finalised; information will be published on: www.stavechurch.com.
The route starts from Borgund stave church. Follow the “Historisk Rute” signs as an alternative to the E16 towards Lærdal, then take the car ferry across the Sognefjord from Fodnes to Manheller.
The Fodnes-Manheller crossing takes us towards Kaupanger. Turn off highway 5 when you see the signs for Kaupanger and the stave church down by the fjord.
The journey continues on highway 5 to Sogndal, where you turn right onto highway 55 towards Sognefjell. Turn off shortly before Hafslo, when you see the sign for Solvorn and the Urnes ferry, which crosses the fjord to Ornes.
Ferry timetable can be found here
Return by ferry to Solvorn and drive via Sogndal to reach Hopperstad stave church in Vik. Cross the Sognefjord by the Hella to Vangsnes ferry and drive on to Vik.
Alternative routes:
Drive through the Lærdal Tunnel and then take the side road down to Undredal and the smallest stave church in the country. Then on to Gudvangen for the ferry to Kaupanger. This sails through the Nærøyfjord which was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2006.
From Ornes one can drive around the Lusterfjord, using the country road to Skjolden. You pass the old Ytre Kroken manor, now called Munthehuset, and the protected waterfall Feigumfossen, with its vertical fall of 218 metres.
Dale church on the other side of the fjord dates from about 1250. Just above the centre of Gaupne is Gaupne Old Church, which belongs to the Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments. The church dates from 1647 and has a portal from the earlier stave church. Read more
Kulturminner
1. About the fjord and the stave churches
The Sognefjord stretches over 200 kilometres inland, right to the foot of the Jotunheim mountains and the Jostedalsbre glacier. The landscape around the fjord was created by the ice ages and its fertile slopes provide a good basis for agriculture. Settlement beside the fjord and up in the mountains can be traced right back to the early stone age.
2. Borgund stave church
Borgund stave church has stood largely unchanged until the present day. It is one of the most distinctive of our stave churches and has served as a model during the restoration of a number of stave churches in Norway, such as Gol stave church in the Norwegian Folk Museum, Hopperstad stave church and Fantoft, which came from Fortun.
3. The Old Bakery, Lærdalsøyri
In the heart of the old town lies the Old Bakery, which now belongs to the Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments. In the years from 1880 to the 1950s, four bakers carried out their trade here. The Society took the building over in 1972.
4. Undredal stave church
Undredal stave church is idyllically located in the tiny community of Undredal. The church at Undredal is thought to be the smallest parish church in the Nordic countries.
5. Kaupanger stave church
Kaupanger stave church is the largest of the stave churches in Sogn and is still in use as the parish church. A little anonymous on the outside, but majestic on the inside. The church’s medieval structure remains complete and the church is considered to be one of our best preserved examples. Traces have been found of two previous churches on the same site. The oldest has been dated back to the second half of the 11th century. Dendrochronological testing of the south portal shows that the timber was felled shortly after 1137.
6. Urnes and the world heritage
Urnes is the only stave church on UNESCO’s world heritage list, alongside the pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China. Urnes is the oldest of the remaining stave churches. The timber was felled in the winter of 1129-30 and this is believed to be the fourth church on this site. Next to Nidaros Cathedral, Urnes stave church is the most discussed and most central church in research into medieval Norway.
7. Gaupne old church
The present church dates from 1647, but right at the entrance we find the portal of the much older stave church.
8. Hopperstad stave church
Hopperstad stave church is on a hilltop near the old settlement of Hopperstad. The church is surrounded by fields and pastures and has the ”classic” stave church form, with roof above roof.
9. Hove stone church
On the opposite side of the village lies Hove stone church. This has been dated as about 30 to 40 years later than Urnes and Hopperstad.
10. Hestad chapel
From Vik, you can cross the fjord to Dragsvik and take highway 13, a National Tourist Route, over the Gaularfjell mountain pass. At Viksdalen, turn off towards Sande and drive on along lake Viksdalsvatn.
