Built in the 12th century, Rødven stave church is one of the few surviving examples of the Møre type of stave construction, a regional building style found only in this part of western Norway. What sets it apart from better-known stave churches further south is its unusual twisted portal columns, a decorative feature rarely seen elsewhere.
The church sits in a quiet spot near the Rødvenfjorden, surrounded by a small churchyard. It has been modified over the centuries, as most surviving stave churches have, but retains its medieval core structure. A later addition gave it a more conventional church exterior, which means the stave construction is partly hidden until you step inside.
The church is managed by Fortidsminneforeningen (the Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments) and is open to visitors during the summer months. A small exhibition explains the building's history and the distinctive features of Møre-type construction. The setting by the fjord, away from the main tourist routes, means you are likely to have the place mostly to yourself.
The church sits in a quiet spot near the Rødvenfjorden, surrounded by a small churchyard. It has been modified over the centuries, as most surviving stave churches have, but retains its medieval core structure. A later addition gave it a more conventional church exterior, which means the stave construction is partly hidden until you step inside.
The church is managed by Fortidsminneforeningen (the Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments) and is open to visitors during the summer months. A small exhibition explains the building's history and the distinctive features of Møre-type construction. The setting by the fjord, away from the main tourist routes, means you are likely to have the place mostly to yourself.
