Places with a story
Hedalen stavkyrkje
Hedalen stavkyrkje preserves both medieval timber construction and an exceptional collection of church art in Sør-Aurdal. Its western doorway leads into a building enlarged over centuries while retaining important parts of the original nave.
About the place13
The surviving medieval portion is a single-nave stave church, with corner posts helping carry walls and roof. Later log-built additions turned it into a cross-shaped church. This mixture makes the building valuable for understanding both early church construction and the practical changes made by a growing congregation in Hedalen.
History and local connections12
Tree-ring dating shows that timber was felled in the winter of 1161–1162. Enlargement into a cross plan is associated with 1699. A major restoration in 1902 added a new chancel and replaced the wooden roof covering with slate. These interventions mean that today's full exterior should not be mistaken for an entirely unchanged medieval building.
What to look for23
The western portal's intertwined animals and foliage are a highlight. Inside, the medieval Virgin and Child known as Hedalsmadonnaen, the reliquary and its surviving carrying frame connect the church to worship before the Reformation. A small carved church model also survives. The bear skin belongs to a local rediscovery legend, which should be understood as folklore rather than evidence of the church's abandonment.
Plan your visit12
The parish supplies the current link for guided opening times and prices; the local information site describes a summer visiting season. Confirm an interior tour before travelling outside that season. As an active church with fragile historic objects, it deserves a quiet visit that follows the guide's instructions and allows for acts of worship.
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