Mære Church, Sparbu, Norway

Mære Church is famous for its medieval roof with heads (human, beast and mythological) projecting from the top of its walls. The stone church likely dates to between 1150 and 1200. This is suggested by stylistic dating of its dedicatory inscription as well as coins dating from the reign of King Sverre (1183-1202) found during excavations. The pagan site buried under the church may possibly be the one referred to in the Icelandic Landnámabók Chapter 297.

The floor of the church was excavated in 1969, and found to contain the remains of a pagan cult structure. The nature of that structure was not clear. Lidén felt this represented the remains of a building, but a critique by Olsenin the same work suggested this may have be been a site for pole worship. A recent review of the evidence by Walaker Norddide in 2011: concluded that this site was similar to the site in Hove (Åsen, also in Nord-Trøndelag) and was therefore likely a cult site for pole worship. Several renovations and restorations have been undertaken over the years, most recently in the 1960s.

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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.

Roar Larsen (3 years ago)
Great old church, with a lot of great history. I was lucky that it was an open church when I was there and I got a wonderful tour, both inside the church and outside in the cemetery.

Gunnar Eriksson (3 years ago)
A harmonious church with a cozy priest. Here you feel good.

Kjetil Krogvold (5 years ago)
Fight cozy

Håvard Fossan (5 years ago)
Very nice church and cemetery

Mære Church

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