Southern Norway - Norway - page 256

Sights
Heddal Stave Church CHURCH
( www.heddalstavkirke.no ; Heddal; adult/child Nkr60/free, entry to grounds free;
9am-7pm Mon-Sat, 1-7pm Sun mid-Jun-mid-Aug, shorter hr rest of yr) This fairy-
tale church is the largest and one of the most beautiful of Norway's 28 remaining stave
churches.
Thechurchpossiblydatesfrom1242,butpartsofthechanceldatefromasearlyas1147.
It was heavily restored in the 1950s. As with all stave churches, it's constructed around
Norwegianpinesupportpillars-inthiscase,12largeonesandsixsmallerones,alltopped
by fearsome visages - and has four carved entrance portals. Of special interest are the
lovely 1668 'rose' paintings on the walls, a runic inscription in the outer passageway and
the'Bishop'schair',whichwasmadeofanoldpillarinthe17thcentury.Itsornatecarvings
relate the pagan tale of the Viking Sigurd the Dragon-slayer, which has been reworked into
a Christian parable involving Jesus Christ and the devil. The altarpiece originally dates
from 1667 but was restored in 1908, and the exterior bell tower was added in 1850.
The displays downstairs in the adjacent building (where tickets are sold) describe the
history of the church. For more information on stave churches, Click here .
From Notodden, bus 301 goes right by; otherwise take any bus heading for Seljord or
Bondal. You could also walk from town in half an hour, 'admiring' the views of the busy
road and slowly rusting factories on the way. Note that the church is sometimes closed for
weddings.
Heddal Rural Museum MUSEUM
(Bygdetun; www.museumaust.no ; Heddal; adult/child incl church Nkr60/free;
10am-7pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug) This museum, 300m from the stave church, includes a
collection of houses from rural Telemark.
Sleeping
Notodden Camping CAMPGROUND €
( 35 01 33 10; www.notoddencamping.no ; Reshjemveien; tent sites without/with
car Nkr50/110, caravan sites Nkr220 plus per person Nkr15, cabins Nkr450-550)
Notodden Camping is an acceptable site 3km west along the E134, then 200m south on