Torpo Stave church
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Across the river and a little up the slope lies the “Torpo stave church” which was erected in the 1100s. Hallingdal originally had 7 stave churches. Today Torpo stave church is the oldest and the only original church which still stands in the valley. It is also the oldest building in Hallingdal. In Gol you can also find a true replica of their original stave church. The beautiful and peculiar stave churches which were erected in many villages in Norway have a special history. During the course of the Viking era Norway went from worshipping Norse Gods to a belief based on christianity and it is officially estimated that Norway became a christian land in 1030. The Stave church in Gol is embellished with many Norse symbols, amongst others Thor and his hammer. Why these symbols are in a christian church, no one knows. The story goes that Norwegians were unsure about the new beliefs and wanted to keep some memories from the old beliefs. From the 1100s and beyond, it is estimated that there were over a 1000 stave churches erected in Norway. Today there are 28 remaining. They got their name from their structure - a structure of horizontal wooden sleepers connected with vertical wooden poles. The achievement of raising these beautiful buildings is unique, especially when you consider that the axe was the tool most used in their construction.