Europe
Norway
Borgund
Church
Borgund stavkyrkje
Name:Borgund Stave Church
Elevation:approx. 400 metres above sea level
Construction date:around 1180
Commissioned by:unknown
Architect:unknown
Architectural style:Norwegian stave church architecture
Interior dimensions:approx. 7.35 metres × 6.10 metres
Highest structure:roof ridge at approx. 11 metres
Borgund Stave Church from an elevated perspective with a cemetery and green mountain slopes in the background.

Borgund Stave Church: Masterpiece of Medieval Timber Architecture

Location: Borgund Stave Church stands in the small village of Borgund in the municipality of Lærdal, in Vestland, western Norway. It lies in a narrow valley surrounded by steep mountain slopes and dramatic scenery. Thanks to its exceptionally well-preserved medieval fabric, it is considered one of Norway’s most important stave churches and one of the finest surviving examples of this historic form of timber architecture.

Historical Context: The Christianisation of Norway began as early as the 9th century and became firmly established during the 10th and 11th centuries. As the new faith spread, numerous churches were built across the country, many of them in wood. This distinctive building tradition became particularly widespread between the 12th and 14th centuries. Of the well over 1,000 stave churches that once stood in Norway, only 28 survive today. Many were lost to decay or fire, while others were replaced by larger churches. By the 19th century, awareness of the historical value of the remaining buildings had grown, helping to save several stave churches from demolition.

Construction History: Tree-ring analysis shows that at least one of the load-bearing posts was felled during the winter of 1180/1181. The present church was therefore probably built shortly afterwards. During investigations beneath the floor in 1969, parts of an older external gallery were discovered. These may have belonged either to an earlier construction phase of the present church or to a previous building on the site. Today, it is no longer possible to determine in every detail which elements belonged to the church from the beginning and which were added later. When a larger parish church was completed directly beside it in 1868, Borgund Stave Church ceased to serve regularly as the parish church. It underwent extensive restoration in the 1870s. During this work, numerous later additions and alterations were removed to bring the medieval appearance of the building more clearly to the fore.

Architecture: The raised central nave of Borgund Stave Church is supported by a total of 14 tall timber posts, which form the core load-bearing framework of the medieval structure. Horizontal beams, rounded arches and distinctive St Andrew’s crosses link the individual elements and provide additional stability. The X-shaped braces are also decorated with carved leaf and plant motifs.

Roof Structure: One of the most striking features of Borgund Stave Church is its seven-tiered roof structure, which is entirely covered with wooden shingles. Carved dragon heads and decorated ridge crests add dramatic accents and give the building its unmistakable silhouette. The dragon heads visible today were renewed in 1738 based on older models, at the same time as major sections of the roof were repaired.

West Portal: The west portal of Borgund Stave Church is especially impressive, with elaborate carvings of intertwined animal bodies, dragon-like creatures and plant tendrils. The motifs combine Nordic ornamental traditions with forms associated with European Romanesque art and rank among the church’s most important surviving wood carvings. The original symbolic meaning of the individual animals and patterns has never been conclusively established.

Interior: At around 40 square metres, the interior of Borgund Stave Church is surprisingly small and feels far more compact than its elaborate, tiered exterior might suggest. Only a few small openings allow daylight to enter. As a result, the interior remains unusually dark even during the day, creating a distinctly mysterious atmosphere.

Altarpiece: The brightly painted altarpiece depicts the Crucifixion of Christ with Mary and John and dates from 1654. Its wooden frame is older and was probably made around 1620, while the altarpiece itself was altered several more times in later years. During restoration work in 2009, experts discovered two hidden 17th-century coins inside it.

Runes: During the Middle Ages, people carved runes and other symbols into the timber of Borgund Stave Church. One particularly well-known inscription tells of a man named Thorir who passed by on the eve of the Mass held in honour of Saint Olav and also mentions the Norns, beings associated with fate in Norse mythology. The carving shows how Christian faith and older Norse beliefs continued to exist alongside one another for a long time in medieval Norway.

Svalgang: A covered svalgang runs around Borgund Stave Church, enclosing the building like a narrow wooden walkway. It protects the exterior walls from rain, snow and wind and therefore plays an important role in preserving the delicate timber structure. Particularly distinctive are the small rounded arcades with their short columns, which give the svalgang its characteristic appearance.

Bell Tower: South of Borgund Stave Church stands a freestanding wooden bell tower whose oldest components date from the 12th century. It was probably built at roughly the same time as the church. It is the only surviving freestanding bell tower in Norway constructed using stave-building techniques. Over the centuries, it has been repaired several times and partially rebuilt. Even so, significant parts of its medieval timber structure have survived to the present day.

Apostle Andrew: Borgund Stave Church is dedicated to the Apostle Andrew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to the New Testament, the brother of the Apostle Peter. According to Christian tradition, Andrew later worked as a missionary and was eventually crucified in Patras, Greece. Since the Middle Ages, he has been closely associated with an X-shaped cross, which is therefore known as St Andrew’s Cross. Distinctive X-shaped braces can also be seen inside Borgund Stave Church. These are likewise known as St Andrew’s crosses and also help stabilise the timber structure.

  • Borgund Stave Church from an elevated perspective with a cemetery and green mountain slopes in the background.
  • Borgund Stave Church with a cemetery, stone wall and wooded mountain slope in the background.
  • Interior of Borgund Stave Church with a painted altar, candles and dark wooden walls.
  • Borgund Stave Church with a cemetery, red wooden building and wooded mountains in the background.
  • Borgund Stave Church with a cemetery and stone wall in front of steep green mountain slopes.