Flesberg Stave Church

Flesberg, Norway

Flesberg stave church was probably built around 1200. The first written reference to the church is from 1359. The church was originally a single nave church with four free-standing internal posts bearing a raised central roof, surrounded by an ambulatory or aisles on all four sides. It had a narrower chancel, also with a raised central roof, and a semicircular apse. It was surrounded by a gallery loosely connected to the plank walls.

In 1735, the chancel and apse as well as the east wall of the nave were removed. The nave was extended eastwards and two transepts were added, making a cruciform plan. The additions were built in horizontal log construction with notched corners. Of the original stave church only three outer walls survived, as the internal posts and the raised roof were eliminated.

The church yard is fenced with big slates brought from Haukeli farm (on the Lågen west bank) during winter seasons. Some slates have iron rings affixed, these rings were used for tying horses during service - each farmer had a designated ring for his horse (the oldest dated ring from 1661). The idiosyncratic stone fence is shown on a 1701 painting (the oldest existing painting of a stave church).

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: c. 1200
Category: Religious sites in Norway

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Isabelle Denis (3 years ago)
Charming welcome!
roncon (3 years ago)
Nice site and church.
Dagfinn Kolberg (4 years ago)
Great church with good atmosphere, nice location by Numedalslågen.
Rolf Helge Eik (4 years ago)
Got shut up when we called the church servant about why the church was not up during opening hours. He also thinks it was strange that we came from far away to look at the church. And wondered if I was heavy for it when I said I could not know he was on vacation
Ulrich Furthmueller (5 years ago)
An old stave church, which was converted into a cruciform church around 1735. Only the west portal is still original. A visit is worthwhile, even if an interior tour was not possible in summer 2020.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.