Hopperstad Stave Church

Welcome to the beautiful Hopperstad Stave Church in the small village Vik!

This stave church was one of the many stave churches that would have been lost but for the intervention of cultural conservationists, who managed to save it just in the nick of time. Hopperstad was built in 1130 and is, together with Urnes, the oldest stave church in existence. 

During its long life, Hopperstad Stave Church has both suffered periods of neglect and experienced a wonderful revival in the 1880s. With the exception of the nave and the chancel, most of the church's interior had been removed.

In 1881, the architect Peter Andreas Blix offered his services free of charge. The stave church was restored using other churches as models. The external gallery and ridge turret are clearly inspired by Borgund Stave Church.

For updated opening hours and prices: www.stavechurch.com

 

AmerVica?

Vik + America) 

 

It is all in the detail, tradition, culture, nature, history and handcraft.

Hopperstad stave church was in the Middle Ages «Fjordung church» - the main church for this part of  the Sognefjord region. 

Hopperstad stave church, was first build around 1130 AD. 

Stave churches were the very first churches built in Norway after the conversion from Norse mythology to Christianity.

The people of Vik are called «Vikje» it has nothing to do with Vikings. 

But at Hopperstad where the Stave church are standing, burials have been found which shows that the burials must have been raised by Vikings from Vik. Such as bronze bowls and dishes, equipment that is thought to have arrived in Norway from Viking expeditions.  Vik was a center of power in the Viking Age. Much of the reason is thanks to the beautiful, vegetated bays and close access to the Sognefjord. 

 

The Stave Church has nothing to do with the Vikings, since the church was build after the Viking Ages. 

But the end of the Viking Age was what became the conversion to Christianity, and Hopperstad Stave Church was built in thios phase, so our Stave Churches are therefor so closely linked to the time period immediately after the Viking Age. 

 

And that is why all the Norse symbol and style of carvings are so close to what we today can see on hour Stave Churches.

 

Later on.

The year 1812 AD. was a year of distress like no other. It was hard work to get by. Many  people in Norway needed help. An alternative that many took advantage of was to travel to the promised land of United States of America. In 1839, the first «Vikje» traveled to USA. Later, many would follow on. over 4,000 have traveled from Vik municipality to USA. 

In the year 2023, the population is just under 3,000 in Vik. There are tens of thousands in the USA who have roots in Vik. And it is very popular to combine a vacation in Norway who also include tracking their roots and relatives. 

You see, it all stick together.  Tradition, culture, nature, history and handcraft. 

Welcome to Hopperstad Stavechurch and welcome to Vik. 

For guided tours in Hopperstad Stavechurch  book tickets here: Sylvringen