Lesja Church, Heritage church in Lesja, Norway
Lesja Church is a timber-built structure with a cruciform layout constructed in 1749 in the Nord-Gudbrandsdal region, designed to accommodate around 300 worshippers. The building showcases wooden craftsmanship typical of 18th-century Norwegian religious architecture through its interior spaces and construction methods.
This building replaced an 11th-century wooden stave church that originally stood at Hov before being relocated northward to reach more stable ground. The move enabled the construction of a larger, more permanent structure suited to the region's growing community.
In 1814, Lesja Church served as an election venue for Norway's first national assembly, marking a significant moment in the country's constitutional development.
The church remains an active place of worship with regular services and community events throughout the year. Visitors can typically enter during these gatherings or by arrangement with the local parish office.
The interior holds an ornately carved pulpit created by craftsman Jakob Klukstad between 1742 and 1745. This piece was transferred from the earlier church to preserve fine woodwork from that era.
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