Stavanger Cathedral

Stavanger Cathedral was begun around 1100 and consecrated in the middle of that century, and it is the only Norwegian cathedral that has kept its medieval form largely intact and remained in continuous use since, without the long ruinous periods that affected others. The nave is Romanesque, with heavy round columns and small windows; the chancel was rebuilt in Gothic style after a fire in 1272, with tall pointed windows and carved details. The furnishing is later, including a baroque pulpit of 1658 by Andrew Smith, elaborately carved and painted, and a series of epitaphs on the walls. A restoration completed in 2025 for the city's nine-hundredth anniversary cleaned and repaired the fabric.

History

Bishop Reinald, who may have come from Winchester, is said to have begun the cathedral around 1100, and it was finished around 1150, dedicated to St Swithun; the city counts 1125 as its year of foundation. After a fire in 1272 it was rebuilt and enlarged in Gothic style under Bishop Arne (1276-1303), and a restoration led by Gerhard Fischer in 1939-1964 partly reversed the changes of the 1860s (Wikipedia, Stavanger Cathedral).

The main sights

• The Romanesque nave - heavy twelfth-century columns and arches.
• The Gothic chancel - rebuilt after the 1272 fire with pointed windows.
• The baroque pulpit - an elaborately carved and painted 1658 piece.
• The epitaphs - carved memorial panels along the walls.

When to go

Year-round; the cathedral opens daily with reduced hours in winter and closes for services and concerts. The lake and park in front are pleasant in summer.

Good to know

There is a small entry charge. The building closes without much notice for services, weddings and concerts. It is compact by European cathedral standards and the visit takes under an hour.

Nearby

Gamle Stavanger is across the harbour; the Norwegian Petroleum Museum and Lysefjord boats are close.

Key facts