Borgund stave church was built sometime around 1180-1200. it is perhaps the finest example of this unique norwegian architecture, with triple nave, roof over roof and the dragons reminiscent of the ones on viking ships
it is also one of the best preserved stave churches in Norway. as it is nestled between the mountains by the Lærdaløyri river the location is ideal.
the entire church is treated with a tar derived from pinewood. it is an excellent wood preservative and builds up over time giving the church the classic black look. the walls are made from vertical boards called staves, hence the name stave church. the striking roof is covered with handmade pine shingles although this was not the original design
the church is now a museum and open to the public but was closed by the time we arrived. there was a light rain and the church was basically in a cloud. it would have been nice to capture the surrounding green mountains with snow still on the higher sections but the foggy conditions made for interesting black and white shots.
a genuine architectural treasure. this type of church was once common in parts of northern europe but there are only 28 of the remaining and all are in Norway.
churches in Norway typically have a cemetery on the grounds and this one is still in use by the locals.
i had to include one color shot to give a sense of the contrast of the golden brown vertical walls that are exposed to the sun and the green surroundings