Places with a story
Bø gamle kyrkje
Bø gamle kyrkje preserves a medieval stone church beside its nineteenth-century successor in Midt-Telemark. The small building retains its original nave, chancel and rounded eastern end, offering a particularly clear view of Romanesque church architecture.
About the place1
The parish's historical account dates the building broadly to the later twelfth century. A long nave leads towards the chancel and semicircular apse. Doorways open to the west and south, while the north wall has no openings. This compact arrangement survives without the extensive changes that transformed many other medieval stone churches.
History and local connections1
When a new church was built around 1870, local people decided to keep the old one and collected money for repairs. Archaeological investigation found evidence of an earlier, smaller wooden church on the site. The entrance porch and roof turret are later additions, but the main medieval spaces remain legible beside the much newer parish building.
What to look for1
Inside, whitewashed walls frame the chancel arch and two lower niches once used for side altars. A medieval crucifix shows Christ wearing a royal crown. Galleries, pulpit and altarpiece represent changes after the Reformation. Comparing these elements makes the church a useful place to understand how a medieval building continued to serve new forms of worship.
Plan your visit12
The parish lists both the old and new churches at Kyrkjevegen 62. Use its current calendar and contact the church office to confirm access to the medieval interior. Office opening hours are separate from church visiting arrangements. The churchyard is also a place for remembrance, so allow space for ceremonies and people tending graves.
Sources
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