Borgund

In Borgund, medieval timber architecture, exhibitions about the past and routes along the King’s Road come together. The stave church has stood in its original location since it was built around 1180. Together with the visitor centre and the Vindhella–Sverrestigen circular route, the village offers different focal points for your trip: you can take an interest in architecture and history or include a tour in your day’s plans.

The stave church and exhibitions on history

The well-preserved medieval exterior of Borgund Stave Church is distinguished by seven tiers of overlapping roofs, covered galleries, dragon heads and richly carved portals. These details make the church a special destination for anyone interested in historic architectural styles. Those who look more closely can examine the different elements individually: the tiered roofs, carved portals and dragon heads give the building its distinctive appearance. The fact that the church still stands in its original location is also part of its history.

Opened in 2005, the Borgund Visitor Centre offers exhibitions and information about Norwegian stave churches and religious life in the Middle Ages. The “Unike Vikingtidsfunn” exhibition includes finds from the early Viking Age. Finds from the Bjørkum workshop site in Lærdal, discovered in 2009, are also on display. They date from the Migration Period and the early Viking Age; the workshop site is dated to 650–850 AD. The visit thus brings together different historical themes, and the finds are not all from the period of the stave church.

If you are deciding what to focus on during your cultural day, the church and visitor centre offer different points of interest: medieval architecture on the one hand, and the history of Norwegian stave churches, religious life and the finds from Bjørkum on the other. If you are travelling with children, you can consider which of these topics will make your family especially curious and how much time you would like to set aside for it.

Vindhellavegen and the circular route

Routes along the historic King’s Road are also among the experiences Borgund has to offer. The Vindhellavegen section runs entirely along the authentic King’s Road and begins 300 metres east of Borgund Stave Church. These details can help you include Vindhellavegen in your plans as a separate excursion. Another option is the Vindhella–Sverrestigen circular route, which can be started at the stave church. It goes around the mountain peak “Klanten”, which was probably an old village fort.

The two route options can therefore be weighted differently: Vindhellavegen is a section of the King’s Road, while the circular route goes around Klanten and can start at the church. If you are weighing up a visit focused on culture against a day with a circular hike, you can take these differences into account when choosing where to stay. The suggestion that Klanten served a particular purpose in the past is part of the destination’s history, but should not be taken as a definitive classification.

Cycling route and parking

The old E16 from Borgund Stave Church towards Lærdalsøyri is recommended as a cycling route. Hikers starting the circular route at the church can park at Svartegjel. The situation is different for hikers on the King’s Road: the visitor centre does not offer them parking. So, if you are arriving by car and planning a hike, take your planned starting point into account.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can ask yourself whether Borgund is a place to stay that suits the experiences you want to focus on. If you mainly want to explore the stave church, the historical exhibitions or the routes along the King’s Road, you can use these interests as a guide when choosing where to stay. The cycling route towards Lærdalsøyri may also appeal to travellers considering a bike ride.

If you would like to discover more destinations, you can also visit Steinklepp and Lærdalsøyri.

For the wider travel overview: Lærdal.