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About
The unique Vålerkirkene - a nice day trip from Oslo!
Våler municipality is only 2 hours and 15 minutes drive north-east of Oslo (173 km) and here you can experience 1000 years of Norwegian church history and three innovative and architecturally unique church buildings in one day. Take the E6 towards Trondheim and drive to Elverum. From Elverum, head south on RV2 towards Våler.
Read about summer open churches in Våler here
Risberget church hall
The church hall has a local builder and the building was consecrated in 1863.The only one of its kind in Norway that is still in use. The building resembles a regular two-storey house except for the roof rider and the bell house. The church hall itself is located on the 2nd floor and has 60 seats.
Read more about Risberget church hall at Kirken i Våler's webpage here
Gravberget church
The architect here is Magnus Poulsson and the church building was consecrated in 1955. The church is shaped like a spruce tree and is a kind of modern stave church.
The beautiful church is given as a gift from Borregaard to the people of Gravberget. In its time described by the American magazine LIFE as one of the world's 10 most distinctive church buildings in the world.
Read more about Gravberget Church at Kirken i Våler's website here
Våler church
The architect is Espen Surnevik and the building was consecrated in 2015.
The winning draft in Norway's second largest architectural competition. The old church burned to the ground after an arson attack in 2009. This unique building has won the following awards:
• Construction of the Year in 2015
• Innlandets Trepris in 2016
• International award for best religious building in 2016
• The Government's building practice award in 2016
Read more about Våler Church on the Church in Våler's website here
Maria Church Minnelund - 1000 years in 2022
Beautifully, down by the banks of the Glomma was the original church which was built as a stave church in 1022. By royal rescript in 1804, permission was given to demolish the old church and erect a new one in a new place. Today you can see Olavspila, a wooden sculpture that will illustrate the legend that tells that there was disagreement about where the church should be built and that Olav the Holy solve the matter by shooting out an arrow and declared that where it fell down the church should be built. The arrow fell into a "vaal", ie a stump field with twig mounds close to the bank of the Glomma. Hence the church got its name (in everyday speech Vaalakirkja) - and hence the name Våler.
Read more about Minnelunden at Kirken i Våler's website here
Maybe you want to stay a while and experience more in the Elverum region?
Then we can recommend two nice places to stay:
Thon Partner Hotel Central
Thon Partner Hotel Elgstua
And two nice museums to visit:
Anno Norsk skogmuseum
Anno Glomdalsmuseum
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