Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
Stave churches are uniquely designed medieval wooden church buildings once common in north-western Europe. The name derives from the building's construction using load-bearing pine posts called staves. The churches date back to Viking pagan times around the year 1000, when approximately 1500 were built. Christianity subsequently became the prevailing religion and towns increased in size, making most stave churches too small. They were burned down to make way for more modern structures.
As of today, there are only 28 surviving stave churches in existence.
Caretaker and craftsman Ingmar Cloumann Kroken speaks to the history of these architectural and cultural marvels and their place in the sagas of Norway, as well as his role in keeping the church alive.
https://www.heddalstavkirke.no/
artasair.com
Stave churches are uniquely designed medieval wooden church buildings once common in north-western Europe. The name derives from the building's construction using load-bearing pine posts called staves. The churches date back to Viking pagan times around the year 1000, when approximately 1500 were built. Christianity subsequently became the prevailing religion and towns increased in size, making most stave churches too small. They were burned down to make way for more modern structures.
As of today, there are only 28 surviving stave churches in existence.
Caretaker and craftsman Ingmar Cloumann Kroken speaks to the history of these architectural and cultural marvels and their place in the sagas of Norway, as well as his role in keeping the church alive.
https://www.heddalstavkirke.no/
artasair.com
