My Nordic Adventure continued with a visit to the Borgund Stave Church, a unique and significant contribution to world architecture. This church, one of Norway’s oldest preserved timber buildings, is a sight to behold and a treasure trove of history.
Dating back to the late 12th century, Borgund Stave Church is not just an architectural wonder, but a living testament to the resilience of human craftsmanship. Located in Borgund, a small village in Lærdal Municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway, the church is an incredible example of stave church architecture, a style unique to Northern Europe.
This historic place wasn’t on my ‘must-see’ list, but it was included on the Best of Norway tour.
Nevertheless, exploring Norway is what this adventure is all about, so sound the bells – it’s time for church.
GETTING HERE:
The journey from Oslo to the church took about four hours by bus. As we traversed the winding roads of Norway, I was treated to breathtaking views of the Norwegian countryside. The journey was punctuated by the sight of numerous tunnels and bridges, a testament to Norway’s engineering prowess and unique topography.
The beauty of Norway, with its majestic mountains and winding roads, was on full display, making the journey an unforgettable part of my Nordic Adventure.
LÆRDALSTUNNELEN TUNNEL
Lærdalstunnelen Tunnel was a highlight. Journeying through the longest road tunnel in the world was a travel highlight. It was certainly not on my adventure to-do list. But that’s why we explore.
The 15-mile tunnel connects the municipalities of Lærdal and Aurland in Vestland County, Norway. Taking approximately 20 minutes to drive from one side to another, one can feel disoriented and claustrophobic.
Fortunately, the designers considered the mental strain of driving through the long tunnel. The tunnel is divided into four sections, separated by three large mountain caves, with parking areas available at 3.7-mile intervals.
Lighting plays a critical role in the tunnel. The caves have blue lighting with yellow lights at the fringes to give an impression of sunrise, which helps break the monotony and gives drivers and passengers some relief.
GOL
We took a comfort stop in Gol, a small mountainous town in Buskerud County, Norway.
The 75 minutes given was not enough time to truly explore, so I settled for enjoying a nice meal at the local bakery.
This gave me a chance to chat with some of my tour mates. I learned that many of them are seasoned travelers. They also said they admired my courage for not being afraid to solo travel—a sentiment I hear a lot from new friends I meet on my adventures.
A lovely meal with lovely people.
The 75 minutes passed quickly, and we were back on the bus toward our destination — Borgund Stave Church.
BORGUND STAVE CHURCH
Honestly, I wasn’t impressed when we arrived at the church. Frankly, I wanted to stay on the bus and read one of my books about Bergen, especially since we only had an hour before the bus had to leave for the next stop.
However, staying on the bus was not allowed. Plus, a good explorer explores even if the location isn’t appealing to them.
My attitude changed once our tour guide recounted the church’s history.
Built in 1180, Borgund Stave Church is one of the oldest stave churches in Norway. In the mid-1800s, a new law stated that every church must have seating for at least 30% of the congregation.
Borgund Stave Church was deemed too small and was scheduled to be demolished. Luckily, the National Trust of Norway saved it from demolition, and now visitors can experience a unique glimpse into the Norway of the past.
The church is very dark and small inside. Our medium-sized group was split into two to ensure everyone could visit inside.
Another important fact is that the Borgund Stave Church’s bell tower dates back to the 13th century and is Norway’s only free-standing stave bell tower.
BORGUND CHURCH
The Borgund Church next door was also open to visitors. I did a quick exploration inside while the second group visited the Stave Church. This church was built to replace the Stave Church, which was deemed too small by law.
There’s not much else to say about this church, as there was no guided tour or historical displays. The only information board had a sign with the church’s name.
A bit underwhelming, but still part of the adventure.
CONCLUSION:
The visit was memorable. Regrettably, it’s part of the adventure that will never be at the forefront of my mind.
I enjoyed the visit and was glad it was part of the itinerary. However, had it not been, I don’t think I would have been upset about not visiting.
The church visit was the only item on the tour schedule for the day. We boarded the bus and headed to Flåm. Dinner and a good night’s sleep were needed; for the next day, I ride the world-famous Flåmsbana.
BEST OF NORWAY
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