Norderhov church was originally built in c. 1170. It has been rebuilt and expanded into a cruciform church. The construction may be related to the establishment of the Diocese of Hamar in 1153. Norderhov Church has a recorded history dating to an announcement for Ringerike issued in 1298 by Duke Hakon Magnusson, who later became King Haakon V. The church is most known for it close connection with Anna Colbjørnsdatter and with the Skirmish at Norderhov.
The church was renovated in 1771, 1796 and 1809-1810. The sacristy was extended to the east and with new, larger windows and a new lower ceiling and a new choir loft in 1881-1882. Meanwhile, the tower spire was covered with copper plates and the church was refurbished. A new chapel was erected on the north side of the church in 1910-1912. The church was restored again in 1926 and 1953-1956.
The pulpit dates from 1582 is one of the oldest in Norway. The Baroque altarpiece was made probably by Johannes Larsen Skråstad in 1682.
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The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.