Hopperstad Stave Church, Vik i Sogn, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Hopperstad Stave Church, Vik i Sogn, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway  

The richly decorated Hopperstad stave church in Vik would have been lost but for the intervention of cultural conservationists, who managed to save it just in the nick of time.

This stave church was one of the many stave churches that would have been lost but for the intervention of cultural conservationists, who managed to save it just in the nick of time. Hopperstad was built in 1130 and is, together with Urnes, the oldest stave church in existence.

During its long life, Hopperstad Stave Church has both suffered periods of neglect and experienced a wonderful revival in the 1880s. With the exception of the nave and the chancel, most of the church’s interior had been removed. In 1881, the architect Peter Andreas Blix offered his services free of charge. The stave church was restored using other churches as models. The external gallery and ridge turret are clearly inspired by Borgund Stave Church.

Epic Norway Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound