Les églises en bois debout de Norvège

Au Moyen-Age, d’immenses cathédrales de pierre ont été construites dans de nombreux pays d’Europe. En Norvège, une technique similaire a été utilisée pour l’architecture en bois.

Art viking

Grâce à l’intérêt des Vikings pour la construction des bateaux et des maisons, la technique et la tradition de la sculpture sur bois ont continué à se développer. Le travail du bois a atteint son apogée avec les églises en bois debout.

Il existe plusieurs types d’églises en bois debout, ou stavkirke, mais elles ont toutes en commun des poteaux d’angle (stavers) et une charpente de bois avec des planches murales posées sur des pièces d’assise. Leurs murs ainsi construits sont connus sous le nom de murs en bois debout, d’où le nom d’église en bois debout.

Heddal, Notodden.
Photo: Johan Berge / Visitnorway.com

Les portes en bois et les faîtages des églises sont magnifiquement sculptés. Les décorations représentent une combinaison étonnante de motifs d’inspiration chrétienne et d’animaux et de dragons, souvent présumés être des motifs vikings de l’ère préchrétienne.

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Aujourd'hui, 28 églises en bois debout (également appelées églises à piliers de bois ou stavkirke) se dressent sur le sol norvégien. Comme vous pouvez le constater sur la carte ci-dessous, la majorité d’entre elles se concentrent à l’intérieur du pays, en Norvège de l'Est et en Norvège des Fjords.

La plupart d’entre elles sont ouvertes au public en été, et certaines accueillent les visiteurs tout au long de l’année.

Trois choses à retenir sur les églises en bois debout

1. Les spécialistes de la question estiment qu’il y a eu un tout petit moins de 2 000 « stavkirke » en Norvège. Il en reste 28 aujourd'hui.

2. L'église en bois debout d’Urnes, en Norvège des Fjords, est la plus ancienne d’entre elles. Urnes, qui figure sur la liste du Patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO, a été construite aux alentours de 1130.

3. L'église en bois debout de Heddal, en Norvège de l'Est, est la plus grande des églises restantes. Elle mesure 26 mètres de haut, 20 mètres de long et 16 mètres de large.

Les églises en bois debout préservées en Norvège

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Églises en bois debout preservees a ce jour

Flesberg stave church

Flesberg stave church dating back to approximately 1150-1200, this church are famous for interior decorations. Church services are still held in the… Read more

Flesberg stave church

Garmo Stave Church

Located at the top of the hill near the entrance to Maihaugen Open Air Museum, the stave church is the most striking building at the museum. Read more

Garmo Stave Church

Gol Stave Church

Gol Stave Church, which is in the mediaval park Gordarike, is a true copy of the Gol stave church built in the 1200s. The copy was built in the 1980s… Read more

Gol Stave Church

Grip Stave church

In the middle of the island, protected by houses and on the island's highest point, you will find the little red stave church, standing as it has… Read more

Grip Stave church

Hedalen Stave Church

The Hedalen Stave Church may be the oldest of its kind in Valdres today. It comprises an unusual amount of catholic items and among these a reliquary.… Read more

Hedalen Stave Church

Heddal Stave Church

Visit Heddal Stavkirke - the largest wooden stave church in Norway. Read more

Heddal Stave Church

Hegge Stave Church

The Hegge stave church dates back to 1216 and celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2016. The church is still in use as a parish church in the… Read more

Hegge Stave Church

Hopperstad Stave Church

The richly decorated Hopperstad stave church in Vik would have been lost but for the intervention of cultural conservationists, who managed to save it… Read more

Hopperstad Stave Church

Høre Stave Church

Høre Stave Church is rich in dragon and lion carvings from the Middle Ages, and among these are two beautiful portals. What used to be the… Read more

Høre Stave Church

Kaupanger Stave Church, Sogndal

Its size and numbers of posts is what makes Kaupanger stave church stand out from other stave churches, as well as its interior. Read more

Kaupanger Stave Church, Sogndal

Kvernes Stave Church

A beautiful and special stave church. New research in 2020 discovered the true age of Kvernes Stave Church, it was built in the period 1631 –… Read more

Kvernes Stave Church

Lom Stave Church

Lomskyrkja – the church in Lom - is one of the biggest and most beautiful stave churches in Norway. Read more

Lom Stave Church

Lomen Stave Church

Lomen Stave Church is believed to date back to around 1192. The oldest coin found is from King Sverre`s era 1177-1202. In 1750, the church was… Read more

Lomen Stave Church

Nore Stavkirke

Nore Stave Church Nore Stave Church is located in Nore and Uvdal municipality in Buskerud. Nore Stave Church was built according to an architectural… Read more

Nore Stavkirke

Reinli Stave Church

Reinli Stave Church dates back to around 1326. Prior to this, the site has been home to two other churches. The only remains left of the first… Read more

Reinli Stave Church

Ringebu Stave Church

Ringebu Stave Church dates back to around 1220, and is one of the country's 28 remaining buildings of its kind. Read more

Ringebu Stave Church

Rollag Stave church

Rollag Stave Church The church is located a few kilometres north of the centre of the village Rollag. It was probably originally built in second half… Read more

Rollag Stave church

Rødven Stave Church

Rødven Stave Church is beautifully situated by the Romsdalsfjord with the Romsdal Alps in the background, 34 km outside Åndalsnes center and well… Read more

Rødven Stave Church

Røldal Stave Church

The Røldal stave church was built around 1200 and is known for its crucifix, which according to legend has healing powers. The church is centrally… Read more

Røldal Stave Church

St. Olaf's Church - The English Church

The English church in Balestrand was built as an imitation of a stave church. St. Olaf's Church is Anglican and is owned and operated by the Church of… Read more

St. Olaf's Church - The English Church

The old Ål Stave Church site

Ål Stave church was erected around 1170 and demolished in 1880. The stave churches are a wooden building with a carrying construction of poles.… Read more

The old Ål Stave Church site

Torpo Stave Church Ål in Hallingdal

Torpo stave church, Ål i Hallingdal. Read more

Torpo Stave Church Ål in Hallingdal

Urnes Stave Church

Urnes Stave Church , the oldest of Norway's stave churches, is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List. It was built around 1130 AD, but the… Read more

Urnes Stave Church

Uvdal Stave Church

Uvdal Stave Church, as it stands today, does not have its original appearance but is a result of steady expansion and modifications until the 1800s.… Read more

Uvdal Stave Church

Ål Stave Church Museum

The Ål Stave Church dated from the latter part of the 12th century was richly decorated at the time of its demolition in 1880. The main doorway… Read more

Ål Stave Church Museum

Øye Stave Church

Øye Stave Church was probably built towards the end of the 1100s. its original location was in the fields facing Vangsmjøsa. This was an… Read more

Øye Stave Church

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