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Carvings in north wall portal, Urnes Stave Church-1📷 Bjørn Erik Pedersen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor's pick

Urnes Stave Church

Ornes, Norway

History

Norway’s oldest stave church, from the 12th century and on the UNESCO list, famous for its carved animal ornament. It sits on a green slope above the Lustrafjord.

Nearest town
Ornes, Norway
Category
History & culture
GPS
61.2981, 7.3226
Editor's pick
★

Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.

Good to know

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

Getting there

  • Norway: Electronic tolls by number plate. Automatic toll roads and toll rings; many routes include car ferries. Motorway limit for cars: 110 km/h.

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Jotunheimen: Valdresflye and Sognefjellet – a group of houses by a body of waterPhoto by Stock Birken on Unsplash
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Mountains & lakes

Jotunheimen: Valdresflye and Sognefjellet

259 km8 stops4 days

Nearby

Norwegen 1998 (244) Bøyabreen (45287142705)© Rüdiger Stehn from Kiel, Deutschland · CC BY-SA 2.0
Nature

Bøyabreen

Fjærland, Norway
Borgund Stave Church – Borgund stavkirke 2016 inne-1© Bjørn Erik Pedersen · CC BY-SA 4.0
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History

Borgund Stave Church

Borgund, Norway
Aurlandsfjord Viewed from Stegastein Viewpoint - 2013.08 - panoramio© rheins · CC BY 3.0
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Views

Stegastein viewpoint

Aurland, Norway
Nature

Nigardsbreen

Gaupne, Norway

Campsites nearby

  • Eplet (Camping)Campsite
    4 km from Urnes Stave Church
    TentsShowersToiletsWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Lyngmo Ungdomssenter og CampingCampsite
    6 km from Urnes Stave Church
    TentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Sandvik Camping 1Campsite
    11 km from Urnes Stave Church
    Caravans
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • AmlesandenCampsite
    14 km from Urnes Stave Church
    TentsCaravansDrinking waterShowers
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Kjørnes CampingCampsite
    14 km from Urnes Stave Church
    TentsCaravansWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Lærdal Ferie- og FritidsparkCampsite
    23 km from Urnes Stave Church
    TentsCaravans
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip

All campsites in Norway · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026

FAQs

Where is Urnes Stave Church?

Urnes Stave Church is in Ornes, Norway, at GPS 61.2981, 7.3226. It is about 14 km from Sogndal.

Can you camp near Urnes Stave Church?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Eplet (Camping), about 4 km away; within 25 km there are 12 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

Which road trips pass Urnes Stave Church?

Urnes Stave Church is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Jotunheimen: Valdresflye and Sognefjellet.

What is there to see near Urnes Stave Church?

Places worth a stop nearby: Bøyabreen (37 km), Borgund Stave Church (38 km), Stegastein viewpoint (43 km) and Nigardsbreen (44 km).

When is the best time to visit Urnes Stave Church?

No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)