Ringebu Stave Church

Ringebu stave church was built around 1220 and stands on a slope above the Gudbrandsdal valley, and what makes it instantly recognisable is not medieval at all: a tall red-painted tower with a spire was added around 1630 when the church was rebuilt into a cross plan, and the colour against the dark tarred timber has become its signature. Inside, the medieval staves and portals survive alongside seventeenth-century furnishing, and a wooden figure of Saint Lawrence from around 1250 is displayed. Excavations under the floor found graves and traces of an earlier church. The building is still in parish use, and the surrounding grounds include a large graveyard and a view down the valley.

History

The earliest written record of the church dates from 1270, but tree rings show its logs were cut in the 1190s, and post holes found in the 1980-1981 survey support the tradition of an older church on the site, along with about 900 coins, mostly from 1217-1263. Around 1630 the master builder Werner Olsen added transepts and a central tower, and a restoration by Ragnvald Einbu in 1921 brought back the interior's original colouring (Wikipedia, Ringebu Stave Church).

What to look for

• The red tower - an addition of around 1630 that defines the church's appearance.
• The medieval portals - carved twelfth and thirteenth-century doorways.
• The Saint Lawrence figure - a wooden statue of about 1250.
• The valley view - Gudbrandsdalen spread below the churchyard.

When to go

May to September for the interior, with services and weddings closing it periodically; the exterior and graveyard are open year-round. The E6 and the railway both pass through Ringebu.

Practical notes

Opening is seasonal and hours are limited. The most striking feature is a seventeenth-century addition rather than medieval work. The church is a short but steep walk or drive above the village.

Nearby

Ringebu village and the Gudbrandsdal valley are below; Rondane and Lillehammer lie north and south.

Key facts