Dale Church, Medieval stone church in Luster, Norway
Dale Church is a medieval stone church in Luster Municipality on the western shore of Lustrafjorden. The building has sturdy stone walls, two elaborately crafted soapstone portals, and consists of a rectangular main nave with an attached smaller choir section.
Construction of the building started around 1220, with timber samples from the roof structure dating to between 1220 and 1229. The choir section was completed later, around 1241.
The building displays features typical of Norwegian rural churches, with thick stone walls and details crafted by medieval artisans. Visitors can still see traces of this earlier craftsmanship in the portals and interior furnishings today.
The site sits directly on the fjord and is easy to explore from the outside, with the sturdy stonework visible in all seasons. Visitors should note that the area is sparsely populated and it may help to check opening hours and access beforehand.
The western portal ranks among the most elaborate medieval portal entrances in Norway, surpassed only by those at Nidaros Cathedral. This careful craftsmanship stands out especially when compared with other church entrances in the region.
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