Borgound

Borgund Stave Church, 12^th Century, Sogn

Borgund Stave Church, dedicated to St. Andrew, taken in 2007

 

Borgund is one of 5 stave churches located on or near Sogn Fjord. It is the most visited stave church as it is located (in a narrow valley) on a main highway between Oslo and Bergen. It is also one of the most beautiful. With its many roofs and flying dragons it is suggestive of a pagoda. Construction details, (e.g. drain holes on inside walls) suggest that the outer ambulatory and the apse were added after the 12^th century. None the less, it is considered to be one of the most authentic stave churches and the best preserved of all stave churches.

Due to its authenticity, Borgund served as the model for the stave church restoration in Hopperstad, for the restoration of Fantoft stave church near Bergen and the Gol stave church now located in the folk museum on Bygodoy Peninsula , just a few minutes by boat from Oslo.

 

Gazing at Borgund, it is awe- inspiring to comprehend that such skilled carpenters existed so long ago and equally awe-inspiring to realize that their work has endured for close to 900 years. It is supposed that these carpenters were the recipients of wood working skills passed down by generations of Viking ship building carpenters and Viking ornament carvers. As to the durability of the wood, the following process was used to cure the wood: First, the top of a desirable tree was cut off; Then, gashes were made in the bark so that the resin would spread throughout the tree (usually in March); After a year or so, the tree was cut down and finally, the tree was left to further cure on the ground for another extended period (Stewart p. 27).

 

 

The dragon heads on two of the roofs are symbols carried over from pre-Christian times. It can be supposed that the transition from Paganism to Christianity did not happen in a day, but rather over a period of several hundred years. It is, therefore, easy to understand that that pagan symbols, rituals and festivals were carried over into the Christian church. The heathen dragons were there to protect the church.

 

(Mini quilt of stave church construction) / coming soon

 

The lowest and outermost roof covers the walkway, or ambulatory, around the church. The second roof covers the aisles. A third roof rises high above the nave. Finally, there is a cupola (not shown in the diagram) which has its own roofs. The west portal is richly decorated with animal motifs entwined in vines.

 

Altarpiece from 1700

 

The church interior is not highly decorated, which contrasts with the extravagant exterior. The colorful altarpiece is a stark contrast to the plain but elegant wood in the interior. It dates from around 1700, after the Reformation and depicts the Crucifixion.  There are runic inscriptions on both the interior and exterior walls that date from the 1100s.

 

Borgund is quite a drive from Oslo. Driving from Oslo on E16, one goes through a colossal tunnel that is 24km long shortly before arriving at Borgund.

 

The church is owned and cared for by the Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments.