Hove Church, Vik i Sogn, Norway

Hove Church was built around the year 1170. Historians believe it was built by a great man who belonged to the very upper echelon within the Norwegian aristocracy. They say he had built this as a private chapel. It's a small church with seating for only about 35 people.

Peter Andreas Blix was an architect who bought the run down church in 1880, and he restored the church from 1883-1888. Blix's goal was to finish the stone church to its original conditions. Soapstone for repairing the walls were brought from the old soapstone quarry in the municipality. Just as when he renovated the nearby Hopperstad Stave Church, Blix removed all the fixtures that were not from the Middle Ages. On the exterior Blix built up a large stone tower on the old base of the tower (it had been a wooden tower from 1600 until the 1880s). It is uncertain whether the church had a wood or a stone tower originally.

Blix died in 1901 and he is buried under the floor of the church. He owned the church until his death, and bequeathed it to his brother who then gave it to the state. The church is still owned by the state, and it is administered by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. It is no longer regularly used by the parish, but it can be used for special occasions such as weddings or funerals.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Cassie Miller (2 years ago)
The drive to Hopperstad is a really beautiful mountain pass leading into the fjord and valley where the church resides. Drive carefully getting there and check weather conditions before you go as the pass can and does close for bad weather. Also note that the parking is just a pull off along the roadside near the church.

Omid Givi (2 years ago)
Beautiful example of stave churches in Norway, which is, if not the oldest, one of the very oldest available. The church is believed to be built around 1130 and keeps many well preserved details. When open (and after buying a ticket) you could access the inside area of the church and enjoy many details frontje period, among which a 1000 years old chest. The church stands in the beautiful typical Norwegian surrounding.

Paul Blaak (2 years ago)
Nice church, guide could tell a lot about the church! Nice story about the old and new dragons on the top. I don’t know why people complain about the entrance fee to visit these beautiful conserved monuments?

Markus Riegel (5 years ago)
Nice stave church with and interesting interior. The staff was nice and answered all our questions. There are ancient drawings in the back of the church which you should check out.

cindy (7 years ago)
Great example of a stave church. The guide told us with passion about his church and the history. We walked around it and inside, which was also very nice. Lucky this one is still standing and hasn't been taken down in the past

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