Church of Hvalsey

The stone church measures 16 meters in length and 8 meters in width, with walls reaching 1.5 meters in thickness.

The last documented Norse activity in Greenland occurred at this church during a wedding ceremony between Thorstein Olafsson and Sigrid Bjornsdottir in September 1408.

The church structure incorporates Anglo-Norwegian architectural elements from the 13th century, including an arched eastern window influenced by British church designs.

The ruins stand approximately 12 miles northeast of Qaqortoq, the largest town in southern Greenland with over 3,000 residents.

The granite stones used in construction weigh up to 5 tonnes each, and the walls were finished with shell-based mortar creating a white exterior.

Location: Kujalleq

Length: 16 m

Width: 8 m

Made from material: stone

Part of: Hvalsey

GPS coordinates: 60.82866,-45.78166

Latest update: May 12, 2025 08:20