Borgund stave church

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Stave church in Borgund

Borgund stave church (Borgund stavkyrkje) is a stave church located in Borgund, Norway. It is classified as a triple nave stave church of the so-called Sogn-type. This is also the best preserved of Norway's 28 extant stave churches. It was probably built in the end of the 12th century, and has not changed structure or had a major reconstruction since that date.

The church site shows evidence of a previous building, which can point to an earlier church or perhaps an old pagan temple that had been taken into use as a church. The interior of the church, except for the pulpit and the altarpiece, is mainly free from the post-Reformation decorations seen in most other stave churches. An authentic medieval square-shaped baptismal font made of soapstone is still a part of the interior.

Several runic inscriptions are found on the walls of the church, one reads: Tor wrote these runes in the evening at the St. Olav’s Mass. And another one reads "Ave Maria" and you will find these at the west portal of the church.

Borgund stave church is owned by Fortidsminneforeningen (The Society for the Preservation of Norwegian Ancient Monuments).

There is a replica of the Borgund stave church in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA.

The church is also featured as a Wonder for the Viking civilization in the video game Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.