Urnes Stave church, Luster, Sogn and Fjordane

Urnes stave church ("Urnes stavkirke" in Norwegian) is a stave church at the Ornes farm, near Lustrafjorden in Luster municipality, Sogn og Fjordane county.

A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing.

Urnes stave church was built around 1130 or shortly thereafter, and still stands in its original location. The church is believed to be the oldest of its kind. It provides a link between Christian architecture and the architecture and artforms of the Viking Age with typical animal ornamentation, the so called "Urnes-style" of animal-art.

PHOTO SOURCE: C.H., Innovation Norway, courtesy of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry.

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