Hylestad stave church, Medieval church site in Valle Municipality, Norway.
The wooden church in Valle was built with traditional post-and-beam construction using vertical staves to form its frame and featured detailed carvings on its doorways. The structure followed the pattern of stave churches common to this region and showed the skilled craftsmanship of its time.
The church was built in the late 12th century as one of many wooden church structures created across Norway during that period. It was dismantled in 1664, when 24 medieval coins were discovered beneath its foundation, offering clues about how long it had stood.
The preserved door panels show seven carved scenes from Norse mythology, including the legend of Sigurd and the dragon Fafnir and other heroic tales from ancient times. These carvings told stories that were familiar to people then and reflected their beliefs and values.
The original church components, including decorative elements and carved panels, are now displayed at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo. Visitors should know that the site itself is now a historical location without a building, while the carved craftsmanship is preserved in museum spaces.
During a harsh winter, the church's original gate and yard wall were transported across frozen river ice to a new location about 900 meters southeast. This unusual transport shows how people in this cold climate region moved materials and relocated structures.
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