Varhaug gamle kirkegård, Cultural heritage site near the sea in Hå Municipality, Norway
Varhaug gamle kirkegård is a cemetery near the sea in Hå Municipality, featuring a small chapel, stone walls, and traditional grave markers. The grounds serve as an active site where religious services take place twice yearly.
The site has hosted three different churches since the 1200s, reflecting centuries of religious use at this location. The current chapel dates to 1951, built after the previous structure was destroyed during World War II.
The chapel displays an antique church bell from the 1700s and houses a replica of the Sapientia sculpture that represents wisdom from an earlier era. The site continues to serve as a place where people gather for religious observances and reflection.
Visitors can access the grounds year-round, with religious services held on two specific occasions that are worth checking in advance. The site is easily walkable and offers straightforward access to different parts of the cemetery.
During World War II, German troops left their mark on the site by using iron crosses from graves as targets for shooting practice. Bullet holes remain visible today on some of the surviving grave markers, serving as a stark reminder of that period.
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