Lunner church

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Lunner church from south east

Lunner church is a medieval stone church from the 12th century, located on the hill of Lunnertoppen in Lunner municipality of Oppland county, Norway.

Lunner church was originally only a stone church with a circular stone tower at the west side. On the image the original stone church can be seen on the right hand side.

Sometime between 1780 – 1790, the tower was dismantled and the church rebuilt into a cruciform church. This can be observed to the left in the picture.

The newer parts in wood underwent restoration work in 1987 – 1988. An archaeological excavation was carried out and the circular base of the old tower was recorded and left open for public display. Lunner church is the only known circular church tower in Norway. Over the circular base of the tower a new floor of glass was made so visitors of the church now can see this remarkable construction.

The medieval parts of the church have still not gone through restoration.

At the outside the medieval part of the church has nine stone reliefs. These ornaments depict humans and animals, probably battling for human souls. The ornaments are located on the southern and eastbound walls, and on the sacristy.