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Built between 1157 and 1216, the beautiful Gol Stave Church is an incredible example of a Nowegian stave church from the medieval era. Step back in time by visiting this wonderful stave church close to Oslo, which is part of an expansive open-air museum.
Let’s learn more about Gol Stave Church, including the history of the church, where exactly it is, how to get there and top tips for your visit.
All About Gol Stave Church’s History
One of many historic stave churches in Norway, the 12th century Gol Stave Church was originally built in the village of Gol in Hallingdal valley. When a new church was to be built on the site, Gol Stave Church was saved from demolition by King Oscar II, who paid for it to be moved to its current location just outside Oslo city center.
The materials of the church were deconstructed, catalogued and transported to the new site, then reconstructed in the traditional medieval style. Many of the original murals and artifacts still exist within Gol Stave Church today.
Gol Stave Church is now part of the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, which is an open-air museum composed of over 150 buildings that have been relocated from towns and rural districts to nearby Oslo center.
Interior and Exterior of Gol Stave Church
Both the interior and exterior of Gol Stave Church are striking examples of incredible Norwegian craftsmanship, with intricate wooden designs and carving based on Viking ship construction. It’s believed that over 2000 stave churches were built in Norway in the 200 years between 1150 and 1350, leading to this classic Norwegian church style and giving craftsman plenty of practice to perfect their techniques!
Its many rooves, portals and intricate carvings make Gol Stave Church a truly distinctive building, with dragon and plant motifs, as well as inscriptions in runes from the Middle Ages inside the church. There are also carvings of animals and humans, as well as wooden galleries and pulpits.
Parts of the church that were missing during the reconstruction in 1884 to 1885, such as the door archway, were built based on the historic 12th century Borgund Stave Church, which is also located in South Norway.
Where is Gol Stave Church?
Located in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, Gol Stave Church can be found on the Bygdøy peninsula. Close to the impressive Oscarshall Castle and the fascinating Fram Musuem, Gol Stave Church sits in an easy place to access from the city center.
How to Get to Gol Stave Church
Reaching Gol Stave Church from Oslo city center only takes around 10 to 15 minutes by car or around 20 minutes by bus. If you’re driving, you’ll need to take the E18 along the coast for most of the journey, then you’ll drive along Dronning Blancasvei and Bygdøyveien to reach the church. By public transport, you can take bus 30 in the direction of Bygdøy via Bygdøynes to arrive at Gol Stave Church.
Top Tips For Visiting Gol Stave Church
When visiting Gol Stave Church, here are some top travel tips to keep in mind:
Opening hours: Gol Stave Church is open from 10am to 5pm each day. You can check the official Norwegian Musuem of Cultural History website for up-to-date opening hours for holidays.
Plan your visit: We recommend planning your visit so you have time to visit the nearby attractions, including the other buildings that are part of the open-air museum. If you allow enough time to be able to visit these nearby sites, you’re sure to have a fantastic time!
Check the weather forecast: Before you head out to Gol Stave Church, it might be a good idea to check the local Norwegian weather forecast, so you can make sure you’re able to enjoy the historic church from the outside as well as inside.
Plan Your Own Visit to Norway!
From the historic stave churches across the country to the beautiful fjords, mountains and forests, Norway has no shortage of amazing cultural heritage sites and spectacular natural wonders to visit.
Get ready for your own trip to Norway by choosing your Norway campervan rental, perfect for traveling all across the country, exploring everywhere on your own schedule. We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful country soon!
