Hole Church, Medieval church in Ringerike, Norway
Hole Church is a medieval church located on a peninsula in Tyrifjord, in the Ringerike region of southeastern Norway. The structure was built using local sandstone and has the capacity to seat approximately 350 worshippers inside.
The church was built around 1200 and represents one of the region's early stone structures in the Romanesque style, with the nave being the primary surviving element from that original construction. Centuries of reconstructions and modifications have shaped the building into its present form.
The interior displays religious artworks spanning centuries, including a 16th-century painting of the Crucifixion and Resurrection alongside an 18th-century altarpiece depicting Communion. These pieces reflect how the space has accumulated spiritual expressions from different eras of local faith.
The church is situated in Røyse at Prestegårdsveien 111 and provides visitors with drinking water, seating benches, and a pilgrim stamp to take away. The location makes it accessible for hikers and travelers passing through the Ringerike area.
In 1814, this building served as a voting location during the drafting of Norway's constitution, linking it directly to a pivotal moment in the nation's independence. Few visitors realize that this quiet rural church played a role in one of the country's most important historical events.
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