Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.heddalstavkirke.no
; Heddal; adult/child Nkr70/free, entry to grounds free;
9am-6pm Mon-
Sat mid-Jun-mid-Aug, 10am-5pm May-mid-Jun & mid-Aug-Sep)
This fairy-tale church is the largest and one of the most beautiful of Norway's 28 remain-
ing stave churches. As always, it's constructed around Norwegian pine support pillars, 12
large ones and six smaller ones, all topped by fearsome visages - and has four carved en-
trance portals. Of special interest are the lovely 1668 'rose' paintings on the walls, a runic
inscription in the outer passageway and the 'Bishop's chair', which was made of an old pil-
lar in the 17th century.
Its ornate carvings 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
church is dated to 1242, but parts of the chancel are from as early as 1147 (it was heavily
restored in the 1950s). The altarpiece originally dates from 1667 but was restored in 1908,
and the exterior bell tower was added in 1850.
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, along the busy road and past
slowly rusting factories on the way. Note that the church is sometimes closed for wed-
dings.
Sleeping
Notodden Camping
CAMPGROUND
( 35 01 33 10;
www.notoddencamping.com
;
Reshjemveien; campsites Nkr180, cabins Nkr450/550)
Notodden Camping is an acceptable riverside site 3km west along the E134, then 200m
south on Reshjemveien. You'll be lucky to find a square inch of space at festival time. Take
a bus from the centre in the direction of Seljord.
Getting There & Away
Timekspressen buses run between the towns of Kongsberg and Notodden (Nkr90, 35
minutes) once or twice an hour.
Akkerhaugen
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