Kaupanger Stave Church

Kaupanger, Norway, Norway

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Kaupanger Stave Church in Kaupanger, Norway, is one of the country's best-preserved medieval wooden churches, constructed around 1140-1150 from local pine timber felled in 1137-1138, succeeding an earlier 11th-century structure on the site. Boasting the highest number of staves—22 in the nave and four in the chancel among surviving examples—it features a raised roof over the 102-square-meter interior seating about 125, with unique central nave height and post arrangements distinguishing it from other Sogn og Fjordane stave churches. Extensively rebuilt in the 17th century and "brutally modernized" in 1862 with 51 windows and galleries before 1959-1965 restoration returned it to its 17th-century appearance under the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments, it remains an active parish church managed by the Fortidsminneforeningen.