Kaupanger Stave Church, Kaupanger, Norway

Kaupanger Stave Church is the largest stave church in Sogn og Fjordane. The nave is supported by 22 staves, 8 on each of the longer sides and 3 on each of the shorter. The elevated chancel is carried by 4 free standing staves. The church has the largest number of staves to be found in any one stave church. It is still in use as a parish church, having been in use continuously since its erection.

Kaupanger Stave Church was built in the 12th century, and is situated on the ruins of what might be two previous post churches. Kaupanger was a market town that King Sverre burned down in 1184 to punish the local inhabitants for disobeying him. It was previously thought that the stave church previously standing on this site burned down in this fire, as archaeological research in the 1960s revealed that the previous church had burned down. The present church was therefore believed to have been built around 1190. Recent research has changed these assumptions. Dendrochronology has shown that the timber used for building the church was cut in 1137. Also, Sverris saga makes no mention of the burning of the church at the time the town was burnt. Consequently, it is now assumed that the church was built around 1150.

Several restoration projects have taken place both inside the church and on the exterior, but in spite of these changes, the medieval construction has been preserved. The pulpit, altarpiece and font are all from the 17th century. In 1984, composer Arne Nordheim was inspired by the neumes and the sound of the medieval bells in Kaupanger stave church in composing the work Klokkesong, which was first performed inside the church as part of the 800th commemoration of the Battle of Fimreite.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Kyrkjegota 3940, Kaupanger, Norway

See all sites in Kaupanger

Details

Founded: 1150
Category: Religious sites in Norway

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.stavechurch.com
www.sognefjord.no

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Vangen Church (31 km)
Urnes Stave Church (13,5 km)
Undredal Stave Church (26,9 km)
Leikanger Church (22,2 km)
Dale Church (30,9 km)

User Reviews

Jo Lee (2 years ago)
This Stave Church is very beautiful on its own, with the vast landscape surrounding it, making it even more serene. It is pity that it was not open when we were there. Nevertheless, do take time to walk around and appreciate the nature and environment.

Claire Slater (2 years ago)
Fascinating building

Ella Krivelis (2 years ago)
An interesting old church. Nice view of the area.

Hana Shehzad (2 years ago)
Church is beautiful from outside. It's pity that we reached late so we could go inside. They close quiet early at 4 pm.

Wim van Oorspronk (3 years ago)
Very nice Stave Church. The from origin "french" guide, makes it a nice visit because he told some information of the history of the Stave Church, as well as some basic principles about what is a Stave Church. He showed some nice stuff. So it's a big 4 star review for a church in a nice environment.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Starmetal74

Historic Site of the week

Soave Castle

Soave castle was built in 934 to protect the area against the Hungarian invasions. It was remodelled by Cansignorio of the Scaliger family in the mid-1300s. in 1365 Cansignorio had the town walls erected and the Town hall was built in the same year.

The castle underwent various vicissitudes until, having lost its strategic importance, it was sold on the private market in 1596. In 1830 it was inherited by Giulio Camuzzoni who restored the manor and in particular the surroundings walls (with is twenty-four towers), the battlements and living-quarters.

Soave castle is a typical medieval military edifice, commanding the neighbourhood of the city from the Tenda Hill. It comprises a mastio (donjon) and three lines of walls forming three courts of different size. The outer line, with a gate and a draw bridge, is the most recent, built by the Venetians in the 15th century. It houses the remains of a small church from the 10th century.

The second and larger court, the first of the original castle, is called della Madonna for a fresco portraying St. Mary (1321). Another fresco is visible after the door leading to the inner court, and portrays a Scaliger soldier. The mastio is the most impressive feature of the castle. Bones found within showed it was used also as prison and place of torture.

The House called del Capitano (the Scaliger commander) houses Roman coins, weapons parts, medals and other ancient remains found during the most recent restoration. Adjacent is a bedroom with a 13th-century fresco with St. Mary and Madeleine and a dining room with medieval kitchenware. Another room houses the portraits of the most famous Scaliger figures: Mastino I, Cangrande, Cansignorio and Taddea da Carrara, wife of Mastino II; the portrait of Dante Alighieri testify an alleged sojourn of the poet in the castle.

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Kaupanger Stave Church