Next to the road here in Bjølstad you'll see Heidal Church. It's a wooden cruciform church built between 1937 and 1941, and it's actually a replica. The previous church from 1754 was struck by lightning in 1933 and burned down. The interior is richly decorated with carved acanthus designs by local woodcarvers.
But the real treasure is the small building next to it: Bjølstad Chapel. This dates from 1531 and has had quite a journey. After the new church was built in 1754, the old chapel became redundant. It was used as a barn for many years, then dismantled and stored. It wasn't reconstructed here until 1962.
What makes it special are the doorposts at the entrance. These are carved in Urnes style and may date from the 1000s, making them possibly the oldest wood carvings in Norway. They originally came from an even older stave church that stood in this valley, and some believe that church inherited them from a pre-Christian temple.
The chapel is open to visitors during summer, but only a few times a year for services. Both buildings are surrounded by an unusual churchyard wall made of timber rather than stone.