One of the biggest attractions at the Norwegian Folkmuseum in Oslo, its landmark stave church from the 13th century, will be closed at the end of this year’s summer tourist season for a major restoration expected to take two years.
The church, said by experts to have been built in 1212 in the mountain valley at Gol in Hallingal, was saved from destruction in the 1800s and moved to King Oscar II’s private open-air museum near the Norwegian capital. It later became part of the Norwegian Folkmuseum where it’s been attracting visitors since 1907.
Later this year, scaffolding will go up all around it and it will be packed in behind tarps as experts restore its roof, apply new layers of tar and improve its fire alarm and security systems.
The work is part of a major effort to maintain Norway’s 28 remaining stave churches from Viking times.
Views and News staff
