Reinli Stave Church sits in a quiet valley about 5 kilometres west of Bagn. The current building dates from the late 1200s, though there have been churches on this site for much longer. King Olav Haraldsson – later Saint Olav – visited Reinli in 1023, and it's believed there was a pagan temple here before Christianity arrived. Archaeologists have found evidence that an earlier church on this site burned down before the present one was built.
The church is the only one in Norway where all twelve original consecration crosses are still intact. These were painted by the bishop during the dedication ceremony, meant to show the church belonged to Christ and to keep evil spirits away. You'll also notice a small hatch in the wall – this was for lepers, allowing them to confess and receive communion without entering the church.
In 1734, there were plans to demolish the church and build a new one elsewhere. Fortunately, the local community protested and the church was saved. It's no longer used for regular services – a modern chapel was built across the road in 1965 – but you can visit as a museum during summer.