Medieval features within the church
This morning we left our lovely hotel in Sogndal to visit the stave church in Kaupanger nearby. A stave church is a medieval wooden Christian church, often situated uphill from surrounding farm area. They are usually dedicated to a particular saint; this particular one is dedicated to Olav and was built in 1140. They are called stave churches because of large wooden poles used to hold the structure up. They are held in place by a grid of stones within the ground.
Inside the church there were many medieval features, but also more recent additions. This included a portrait and pictures of gifts from a Denmark tax collector in 17th century. We really enjoyed the opportunity to see such a beautiful site with rich history.
More medieval details within the church
A back view of the stave church with goats from the nearby farm
A side view of the stave church including the cemetery on the grounds