Lom Stave Church, Lom, Norway

Lom Stave Church is a triple nave stave church that uses free standing inner columns to support a raised section in the ceiling of the main nave. This type of church is amongst the oldest stave churches. The church was first situated in a sub valley to the valley Gudbrandsdal in Oppland County, some 60 kilometers west of Otta.

The church dates to approximately second part of 12th century, but was rebuilt into a cruciform church during the 17th century. The chancel was decorated in 1608, and the nave was enlarged towards west in 1634. The cross section was added in 1663, but this was made in stave like frame work. A complete restoration also took place in 1933, and a smaller one in 1973. This stave church is actually one of just a very few stave churches of which the original medieval crest with a dragon head still survives.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Riksveg 15 1860, Lom, Norway

See all sites in Lom

Details

Founded: 1158
Category: Religious sites in Norway

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.visitnorway.com
www.gonorway.com

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

AMA Generali (7 years ago)
Extraordinary witness of past centuries, or better, millenium, both elegant and lovely, reaching for the sky to conquer the mountains. The interior manages to be respectfully magnificent as well as domestically resembling a warm getaway from the world. The stave church is typical for the country and one of the most beautiful. Take a breath inside and enjoy the art. Entrance fees on my photo.

Matt Smith (7 years ago)
What an amazing church! It’s beautiful inside and out! Buy the entrance fee. It is well worth being able to go inside. We went on the off season so there weren’t any crowds to contend with.

Richard Carter (7 years ago)
What an interesting church! I loved it. It's hard to believe it' been around since the 12th. Century. The guide at the church was very very funny & gave lots of very interesting facts & details - over 2000 old coins found that had slipped through the cracks in the old wood floor boards. OK, OK so it takes less than an hour. Lom is a very nice village. Turn around from the church. See a bridge, underneath is an amazing water fall. Keep going, on your right & down some stairs is an amazing pastry shop. WONDERFUL STUFF!!

Tormod Ellingsen (7 years ago)
Beautiful church and very much a sight to behold when you arrive into Lom. Remember to check opening hours, though. This closes earlier in September than in August. And, remember, no smoking.

Michael Haynes (7 years ago)
I really enjoyed taking picture at this church, it is truly unique in design and material. If you ever find yourself close to Lom please make the effort to at least take a glance. Random fact the exterior wood smells like Sauna

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Infomastern

Historic Site of the week

Visby Cathedral

Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

Lom Stave Church