When you are a tourist in Norway, and especially if you are on a road trip, you should visit a “stavkirke” or Old Church. This building style from the Middle Ages is quite unique for Norway and considered among Europe's most important medieval architecture. A "stavkirke" is a church built of wood. This kind of churches are constructed in such a way that there are rods / poles that support the building. It is these staves /poles that have caused this type of church to be called a "stave church". Norway has 28 of these churches that have been preserved, but it is assumed that there may have been up to 1,000 in Norway at the most.
During my road trips around Norway, I have visited five of these churches. The last I visited was Røldal. It is located in the town of the same name, which is located in Hardanger, western Norway. This church in Røldal was built in the 13th century and throughout the Middle Ages it was a destination for pilgrims. Pilgrimages were common back then and they took place on foot. The church has been renovated both externally and internally. It does look well maintained, but then we found out it has been both rebuilt and renovated in recent times. Some of the original parts from the 13th century are still here. Inside there is a crucifix that dates from the 13th century.
Christianity came to Norway in the Viking Age. Until it was dispersed, it lived side by side with Norse mythology. For that reason, the churches are decorated with both Christian and Norse symbols. It is assumed that most of these churches disappeared sometime between the 1350s and 1700s. It is not know exactly why. I haven't been able to find information about it either. After the Reformation some of the churches were rebuilt. Maybe because of the Norse oranaments. Røldal is not the most impressive, but it's one of the 28 churces left.
Source:
https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olav_den_hellige
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