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).

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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.

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