Places with a story
Urnes stavkyrkje
Urnes stavkyrkje stands above the fjord at Ornes in Luster. The wooden church is internationally known for the carved portal reused from an earlier building and for the way its architecture joins Viking-age animal ornament with the forms of a medieval Christian church.
The place12
The present building belongs to the twelfth century. Its north-side carvings came from an earlier church and date from around 1070. Interlaced animals and slender, curving forms gave the Urnes style its name. The reuse of these wooden elements makes the building evidence of more than one generation of craftsmanship rather than a single moment of construction.
History and local connections12
The church served a wealthy local family at Ornes and later acquired furnishings and decoration from subsequent centuries. Fortidsminneforeningen became its owner in 1881. UNESCO inscribed the church on the World Heritage List in 1979, recognising its importance within Norway's medieval wooden architecture and its combination of artistic influences.
What to look for1
Inside, look at the carved capitals above the posts: animals, birds and fantastic creatures express the Romanesque vocabulary of the medieval interior. A carved Calvary group dates from around 1150. Compare these objects with the later painted and furnished church, and ask the guide to explain the relationship between the reused northern portal and the present structure.
Planning a visit1
Book through Fortidsminneforeningen and check the current visiting season and group arrangements. Visitor numbers are controlled to protect the church, so arriving without considering capacity may not secure entry. The operator asks visitors to park below and walk uphill to the place. Allow time for the approach and follow the guide's instructions around fragile historic material.
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