Kaupanger Stave Church

Both the nave and the chancel have a raised central space, and above the ridge of the nave sits a roof turret surrounded by four smaller spires. The church is clad externally with horizontal wooden paneling. Kaupanger is considered one of the best-preserved stave churches in Norway. Traces of two earlier post churches have been found on the site. In these earlier structures, the load-bearing posts were set directly into the ground, making them vulnerable to rot. The raised central spaces in the nave and chancel are supported by a total of 22 posts, or staves. The nave contains eight pairs of staves running along its length, and it is today regarded as the longest of all stave churches. It remains in use as a parish church and is also the largest stave church in Vestland county. The defining structural system, where vertical posts, or staves, are fixed into a horizontal beam above and a sill below, is what gives rise to the term “stave church.” Originally, the church was surrounded by an external gallery, which was removed in the 1600s. At that time, new windows and horizontal paneling were added. The church underwent significant “modernization” in 1872, with additional windows installed, the interior rebuilt and painted, and the exterior paneled and whitewashed. Between 1959 and 1965, both the interior and exterior were restored, largely returning the church to its 17th-century appearance. Despite these extensive changes, most of the medieval structure has been preserved. The church continues to serve its parish and has remained in continuous use as a local church throughout its history.