The Fantoft Stave Church found just outside of Bergen is a reconstruction of the original church after an arson attack took place in 1992. The church was rebuilt, and completed in 1997. The main characteristic of stave churches is that they are built entirely from wood. The buildings are held up by a timber frame with staver, which are load-bearing ore-pine posts. The construction uses wooden pegs to join the planks and other forms of construction that do not include other materials. The original church from 1150 was located in Fortun in Sogn. It was relocated piece by piece in 1883 and rebuilt in the Bergen area. At the time, Bergen had not yet reached the more rural area where the Fantoft Stave Church was reconstructed.
When you get to the Fantoft Stave Church, you will need to walk up a short and steep hill if you wish to enter the church during its limited opening hours. The church stands in a beautifully green, wooded area. On the intricate roof, you will see dragon heads, a cross, and a tall spire reaching up from the highest point of the roof. In traditional Norse mythology, dragons were known to keep evil spirits at bay. You will see a stone cross outside the church that comes from Tjora. When the church was built, Christianity was just beginning in Norway, giving the church an interesting mix of the two traditions. The interior has only a few seats, and a small altar with beautiful Norse-inspired carvings.
There is a viewing platform set up outside the church’s perimeter fence for those who wish to visit when the Fantoft Stave Church is closed. The best way to get to the church is by bus or light rail.