Garmo stave church

Garmo stave church is a wooden structure with vertical timber posts and a cruciform layout located at Maihaugen museum in Lillehammer. The building displays traditional Norwegian wooden construction methods with handcrafted details typical of medieval churches from this region.

The church was built around 1200 in Garmo village and served as a community worship space for several centuries. After being dismantled in 1880, it was reconstructed at its current location between 1920 and 1921.

The church houses religious objects like a baptismal font from the 1100s and an altarpiece from 1695. These items reveal what was sacred to people in this region and show how they worshipped in that time.

You can reach the church through Maihaugen museum, where it is displayed as part of the museum experience. It is helpful to check the museum's operating hours before your visit, as these vary by season.

The original church underwent a major transformation in 1730 when builders reshaped it into the cross form visible today. This expansion shows how the structure adapted over time to meet changing needs.

Location: Lillehammer Municipality

Inception: 12 century

Made from material: wood

Operator: Maihaugen

Website: https://maihaugen.no/Opplev-Maihaugen/Friluftsmuseet/Bygda/Garmo-stavkirke

GPS coordinates: 61.11111,10.47611

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00