Værnes Church - The Viking Church

Tucked away in the town of Stjørdal, Norway, is this unassuming yet unique church. It may seem like a standard church or chapel in the countryside, but Værnes Church holds a fascinating history.

Værnes Church is one of the oldest stone churches in Norway. Erected approximately between 1080-1100, this church is still standing today and is a reminder of the Viking past that used to live here.

Within the church, you will see beautiful Viking carpentry; the rooftop stretches 11 metres and is seen to curve inward towards the centre. To this day, it is the only original rooftop of its kind still standing in the world that represents this period.

All around, you will see faded frescos and paintings on the walls. Much information about the depiction of these frescos is lost, but it is original to the church and what Vikings and locals would have seen when they entered the church. Although there are some thoughts on the depictions of the frescos (and wood carvings), likening it to Von Schultz, this is just speculation and cannot be confirmed.

This area was exposed to danger during World War II, when Nazi-occupied Norway wanted to build in this area to secure training buildings and an airport. Luckily, Værnes Church was not touched during that time.

Perhaps another interesting building at Værnes Church is the garden shed house. Although this is not open to the public, it once housed armour and Viking weapons. When Vikings were converting to Christianity, they supposedly stored their weapons and valuables into this storage room before walking into church. They typically carried with them axes, knives, and other weapons. These weapons were symbolic of death and destruction and were not appropriate in a church.

Photo Credit: Spottinghistory.com

Lastly, as you wander around the land, you can pay your respects for those whose lives are no longer with us. It is perhaps one of the more tranquil and calming cemeteries I’ve personally been to, and the groundskeepers take fantastic care of it. I’m very proud of that, considering some of my own relatives are buried in this very spot. This church holds a very special place in my heart, as this was the church of my ancestors. So, maybe I’m a bit biased in thinking this church is one of the best historical churches in the world, but you be the judge of that. You just have to check it out and find out yourself!