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Grip Stave Church

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Grip Stave Church, Stave church in Gripholmen, Norway.

Description

Grip Stave Church is a wooden church on Gripholmen island featuring traditional Norwegian architectural elements with dark timber walls and steep rooflines. The structure sits on a rocky plateau overlooking the sea and displays typical features of medieval Scandinavian sacred buildings.

History

The church was built in 1470 and has survived centuries of storms that repeatedly damaged the surrounding fishing settlement. It endured as a sturdy wooden structure through numerous natural disasters that shaped island life.

Culture

The church reflects the shift from medieval Catholic to Protestant worship after the 16th century Reformation. Visitors can sense its religious importance through the gatherings and observances that continue to take place there.

Practical

The island is only accessible by boat, requiring a boat journey of roughly 1 hour from Kristiansund. The best time to visit is between May and September, when weather is most stable and organized tours are available.

Did you know?

The last permanent residents left the island in 1974, transforming Gripholmen into a summer-only destination for visitors. Today the church stands as a witness to a forgotten community, while the island comes alive again each summer.

Inception
15 century
Architectural style
stave church
Operator
Kristiansund kirkelige fellesråd
GPS coordinates
63.18970,7.63611
Latest update
December 12, 2025 14:25

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Kristiansund Municipality).

« Grip Stave Church - Stave church in Gripholmen, Norway » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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