Urnes Stave Church & Viking Shipyard
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Port
Skjolden, Norway
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$199.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Visit Norway's oldest and most decorated stave church and learn about Viking-era wood crafting techniques at the Ornes Shipyard.
Lustrafjord is the innermost arm of Sognefjord -- Norway's largest fjord and the second-longest fjord in the world. You'll visit a number of picturesque spots around the fjord, including the Urnes Stave Church, built in 1130 and perched on the shores of Lustrafjord. Of the original approximately 1,000 stave churches constructed across Norway, only 28 remain today. The Urnes Stave Church is the oldest and most decorated of them all and is the only one in the country recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit the Ornes Shipyard (established in 1975) to learn about shipbuilding techniques rooted in the Viking era. Woodcrafting techniques similar to those used in the building of stave churches are still practiced and kept alive at this amazing shipyard dedicated to preserving Norse culture.
Return to Skjolden via the narrow, winding Romantic Road, named for the storybook countryside it passes through. It is dotted with quaint little villages tucked into the folds of undulating, tree-covered hillsides.
Notes:
The group splits in two at Urnes, with each half visiting both attractions as a smaller contingent. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress warmly in layers with a windproof and waterproof outer layer; bring a warm hat, gloves and a scarf.