Romnes kirke is considered Norway's best preserved medieval stone church. It was built around 1190, dedicated to St. Lawrence, and sits on a quiet road by lake Norsjø near Ulefoss.
What makes this church unusual is not just its age but its survival. In 1723, the Danish-Norwegian king sold off churches to cover war debts. Romnes changed hands several times before ending up with the Aall family, the powerful ironworks dynasty at Ulefoss. They kept it as a private family church for over 150 years. Cabinet minister Niels Aall, one of the men behind the 1814 constitution, is buried here. Over 25 Aall family members lie under cast iron crosses in the churchyard, a fitting detail for an ironworks family.
Because it was privately maintained rather than publicly neglected, the Romanesque walls and Baroque interior survived largely intact. Excavations in 2013 found 17 coins from the 1200s beneath the altar floor. The church is open for visits in summer and hosts concerts and weddings.
Nome kommune took over the church in 1986. It is a short detour from Ulefoss, about 2 kilometres north along Norsjø.
What makes this church unusual is not just its age but its survival. In 1723, the Danish-Norwegian king sold off churches to cover war debts. Romnes changed hands several times before ending up with the Aall family, the powerful ironworks dynasty at Ulefoss. They kept it as a private family church for over 150 years. Cabinet minister Niels Aall, one of the men behind the 1814 constitution, is buried here. Over 25 Aall family members lie under cast iron crosses in the churchyard, a fitting detail for an ironworks family.
Because it was privately maintained rather than publicly neglected, the Romanesque walls and Baroque interior survived largely intact. Excavations in 2013 found 17 coins from the 1200s beneath the altar floor. The church is open for visits in summer and hosts concerts and weddings.
Nome kommune took over the church in 1986. It is a short detour from Ulefoss, about 2 kilometres north along Norsjø.