Some of the Norwegian stave churches seem kind of … just like any wooden building. Like Urnes.
Until you see its decor.

A couple of years ago I was driving around Lusterfjorden, early September and just looking at a landscape I didnt really know. And suddenly, as it happens, I saw a sign to Ornes. It reminded me of something, I just couldn’t place it. So, I drove on and ended up at a ferry quay. The sky was blue, the water green, the trees in all colurs of autumn, and in the distance I saw a peninsula and maybe a … really, could this be Urnes, the most famous of all the Norwegian stave churches?

Being late in season I had to do a longer hike while waiting for the not-so-frequent ferry to the other side of the fjord. I was totally alone. Everything was closed, the cafe, the toilets, the tourist information, the church itself - it was just me and this UNESCO monument.

Urnes is the oldest of the stave churches we have left in Norway, approx. 1130, and it might be an even older church beneath it.
Urnes has given name to its own decorative style, and, yes, there are dragons. I am not sure if this is keeping Christ awake at night.
The style is found in Denmark, the British islands and Ireland.

I still have this happy/hot/excited/unbelivable feeling inside me thinking back at this day.
Taking the ferry back I shared it with farmers and their apples. This is The Apple Country of Norway.

#ornes
#urnes
#vestlandet
#norge
#norway
#stavkyrkje
#UNESCO
#arkitektur
#architecture
#bygning
#kirke
#church
#landscape
#lusterfjorden
#skjolden

Wood is the Nordic language

Tagesziel war dann der Ort #Skjolden am Ende des #Lustrafjorden
Auch hier lag wieder so ein Pott vor Anker, aber wir könnten zumindest der Abfahrt beiwohnen.
Auch die #DJIMini3 konnte ich heute Abend noch einmal in die Luft bringen.
#Norwegen #norway #Drohne #drone

You can never be sure what the weather has got planned round here. #skjolden #lustrafjorden #norway #MoodyMountainMonday #travelphotography

Another one from #skjolden in #norway / #norge . #mountain #fjord #water #reflection #travelphotography

Good morning from #skjolden, #norway.

#Luster #Skjolden Meldt om trafikkuhell, bil køyrt utfor vegen og treft fjellvegg. Ein person i bilen, skal vera vaken og medviten. Nødetatane er på veg.

#Luster #Marifjøra kl 1850-2030: Politiet gjennomført fartskontroll på #fv55 #Marifjøra - #Skjolden. 3 forenklede forelegg. Høyeste hastighet målt til 110 km/t i 80-sone.

#Luster #Skjolden #Fjøsne #Lustravegen kl 0600: Beboer meldt om at en elv har gått over sine bredder og lagt nye veier nedover jordene mot #Fv55 og #Havhellefjorden. Ingen boliger, personer eller dyr skal være tatt i vannmengdene. Uvisst hvor mye Fv55 er berørt. Politiet på veg.