The cultural heritage

Innholdsfortegnelse

The cultural heritage

Published by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The cultural heritage provides a physical record of our history. Historical buildings, burial mounds and cultural environments yield information about people’s lives and activities throughout history.

The Vega archipelago in Nordland, a World Heritage site since 2004. The islands are exposed to the full force of the Atlantic weather, but have been settled by fishermen and hunters since 10 000 years ago. Photo: Jon Brænne, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Urnes stave church is Norway's oldest, and dates back to the 1100s. It stands on a promontory overlooking Sognefjorden, Norway's longest fjord, and is still used for weddings and services. Photo: Leif Anker, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

This building in Trondheim has been listed as a good example of urban architecture in Norway in the late 1700s/early 1800s. Now a popular café, the building has at different times housed stables and a laundry. Photo: Siv Leden, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The bandstand in Birkelunden in Oslo. The Birkelunden park and surrounding streets are considered to be of national importance, and this is the only urban area that has been given statutory protection as a cultural environment. Photo: Lene Buskoven, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Storms can cause serious damage to buildings. This boathouse near the ruins of Selje monastery in Sogn og Fjordane was blown right across the inlet during a storm. Photo: Inger-Marie Aicher Olsrud, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Value of the cultural heritage

The cultural heritage can provide a basis for business activities, tourism and local development, so that cultural heritage protection is an investment in our own future. The loss of buildings, structures or sites is irreversible, and also means that we lose parts of a vital repository of knowledge.

Damage and decay

Many historical buildings and industrial installations are abandoned once they are no longer in use. They need regular maintenance to halt damage and decay caused by wind and weather. Archaeological sites can be damaged by excavations and development, and older buildings maye be demolished as towns grow and develop. It is therefore important to have a clear idea of which buildings and sites we wish to protect for posterity.

Norway will protect a cross-section of its cultural heritage

Norway’s national targets are to protect a representative selection of cultural monuments, sites and environments, and to limit annual losses. Anyone involve in planning processes and development projects must take into consideration the impacts on the cultural heritage.

1. Archaeological monuments

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Archaeological monuments are the oldest traces of human activity. The oldest finds in Norway are about 12 000 years old. By 2020, the loss of archaeological monuments should not exceed 0.5 per cent annually.

Rock art at Benan in Steinkjer in Nord-Trøndelag county. The motifs include bowl pits, ships, horses and humans, and probably date from both the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Photo: Arve Kjersheim, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Remains from the Stone Age settlement at Komsafjellet in Alta in Finnmark county. Photo: Olaf Sverre Berntsen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The ruins of Steinvikholm castle at Skatval in Nord-Trøndelag dates from the late Middle Ages. Archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson built the castle, which served both as defense and residence until he fled after the Reformation in 1537. It was the largest building complex in Norway at the time. Photo: Åse Bitustøl, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Halfdan Haugen in Buskerud county is a burial mound from the Iron Age. Such circular mounds are the most common form of burial mounds in Norway. Today, it is 58 metres in diameter and 4 metres tall. Photo: Arve Kjersheim, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

More than 280 000 archaeological monuments registered

Settlements are believed to have been scattered along the entire Norwegian coast from around 9300–9200 BC. Remains from settlements have been discovered both in Rennesøy in Southern Norway, Aukra on the west coast and as far north as Karlebotn in Finnmark.

Many archaeological monuments and sites have been registered in connection with the production of Norway's economic map sheets, which started in the 1960s. So far more than 280 000 archaeological monuments and objects have been registered.

However, there are large uncultivated and mountain areas that have not yet been investigated. Spot checks have shown that there may be as many as 20 unknown archaeological monuments or objects for every one that has been registered. We therefore believe that there are many archaeological sites around the country that have not yet been discovered.

The map shows archeological monuments along lake Rambergsjøen south of Røros. You can zoom in  further to see more details.

Many archaeological monuments are not visible

Some archaeological monuments and sites are easily visible, for example burial mounds, pitfall traps and drift fences, charcoal pits and hill forts. Others are more difficult to find because they are hidden under peat, earth and rock: for example Stone Age dwelling sites, iron working sites and some rock art sites.

Whether or not they are visible on the surface, archaeological monuments and sites are automatically protected under the Cultural Heritage Act.

Agriculture an important cause of damage

In general, agriculture is the most important cause of damage to, and destruction of, archaeological monuments and sites. One reason for this is that the best modern farmland is usually in exactly the same areas as those our ancestors found to be best for farming and settlement. Farmland is therefore rich in archaeological sites and objects.

The damage is also due to new farming methods. Thousands of archaeological sites were lost prior to 1950, during the first major shift in agriculture. After the Second World War, the extent of damage increased due to new machines, landscaping, ground leveling, cultivation of new areas and drainage.

With the introduction of the tractor the ploughing depth has increased, and the soil is compressed by heavier machines. Larger volumes of soil are therefore moved, and material from the soil is spread to a greater extent. At the same time, the farmer no longer sees what is being ploughed up. The number of archaeological finds that is submitted has therefore decreased, even though more objects are likely to be ploughed up.

Other activities with a major impact on land use, such as building and road construction, as well as deliberate vandalism, also damage and destroy cultural monuments and sites.

Strong legal protection is not enough

The Cultural Heritage Act provides strong protection for cultural monuments. It prohibits people from doing anything "which is liable to damage, destroy, dig up, move, change, cover, conceal or in any other way unduly disfigure any monument or site that is automatically protected by law or to create a risk of this happening" (from § 3).

But this is not enough to give cultural monuments the protection they need. Monuments and sites are illegally damaged or destroyed both deliberately and accidentally.

Grant scheme for expenses related to excavations

Grants for expenses related to archaeological excavations in smaller, private development projects will to a larger extent be given either entirely or partly. This is considered to be an important tool for the preservation of our archaeological heritage. The grant scheme is primarily aimed at smaller, private developers who have been given permission to build a house, garage etc. for themselves on a property where an archaeological site or object has been found. The grant is meant to cover the expenses related to necessary archaeological excavations in development projects of this kind. 

Better registers as a land-use planning tool

To make protection of the archaeological heritage more effective, we must ensure that it is taken into consideration whenever activities or developments will have an effect on land use. Perhaps the most important tool in this respect is up-to-date registers of various types of cultural monuments and sites. In Norway various registers that contain information on the cultural heritage and the environment have been integrated into a single database, called Askeladden.

1.1. Ruins

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There are about 100 ruins of medieval buildings and other stone structures in Norway. Most of them are churches, but there are also remains of monasteries and castles. Compared to other countries in Europe, we have very few contructions made of stone from the Middle Ages. It is therefore important to preserve the ones we have. 

Tautra Monastery in Frosta in Nord-Trøndelag county was established in 1207 by Cistercian monks. Photo: Sissel Ramstad Skoglund, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Selje monastery and sanctuary was a Benedictine monastery located on the island of Selja in Sogn og Fjordane county. Today we can see ruins of the church, the monastery, the garden and the sanctuary. Photo: Inger-Marie Aicher Olsrud, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The island of Selja is linked to the medieval legend of Saint Sunniva. The dating is uncertain, but it is one of the oldest in Norway. Photo: Unknown

Halsnøy monastery is located in Kvinnherad in Rogaland, in Southwestern Norway. According to written sources, it was founded by Erling Skakke in 1164, and was an Augustine monastery during the Middle Ages. Photo: Inger-Marie Aicher Olsrud, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The ruins are in better condition

The term ruins is defined here as the remains of constructions of stone or bricks from before the Reformation (1537). In Norway, most medieval ruins are remains of great monuments such as churches, monasteries, castles and fortresses.

Through studies of shape, building methods and building materials, we can gain knowledge about the function, architecture and construction, dating, what activities have taken place and what has happened to the building or structure after it was no longer in use. Less monumental ruins, such as cellars under farm buildings, are also important sources of knowledge of medieval society and culture.

Most medieval ruins in Norway have been in a poor condition. Therefore, the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage has started a conservation programme for the protection of the most important ruins. When this work is completed, regular maintenance of the ruins will be required in order to secure good condition. 

The conservation of a selection of church ruins and ruins of monasteries, castles and fortifications is well under way. In autumn 2012, the castle at Sverresborg, which is located outside Trondheim, was completed. Thus, Norway's oldest stone castle from the 12th century can be seen in new splendour.

Frost damage threatens the ruins

Ruins are threatened by exposure to the elements such as frost damage, running water and unchecked vegetation, wear and tear. 

In Norway, the main cause of damage to ruins is frost damage.

Many ruins are also damaged by vegetation. The main reason is that vegetation stores moisture that expands when it freezes, so there is a risk of frost damage. Climate change can also lead to more vegetation, which in turn may cause overgrowing of ruins. Furthermore, roots from plants that grow in cracks in the ruins may cause damage.

Need for conservation and maintenance

To ensure that the ruins are in an ever better condition and made more accessible to the public, a conservation programme has been launched by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Thorough conservation work is carried out through the conservation programme.

The most important, easiest and cheapest measure to maintain a ruin is nevertheless regular maintenance. Removing vegetation and clearing the area surrounding the ruin are important measures. This will make it easier to see the ruin in connection with the surrounding landscape, and will also improve visitors experience of the ruin.

2. Architectural heritage

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Norwegian architectural heritage includes many types of buildings from ruins, stave churches and other types of medieval buildings, to very different recent buildings. The architectural heritage is a unique source of knowledge about our past.

Tofte farm in Gudbrandsdalen from the 1700s. Photo: Arve Kjersheim, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Almost 6000 buildings are protected

In Norway, more than 300 000 buildings from before 1900 have been registered. About 6 000 buildings are protected under the Cultural Heritage Act. Spot checks have shown that up to 1 per cent of our old buildings are lost every year.

The built environment makes up a substantial part of Norway's overall real capital. Management of the architectural heritage thus involves making sound use of a large part of society's total investments in both economic and environmental terms.

Studies have shown that by maintaining old buildings instead of demolishing and rebuilding, we can greatly reduce pollution, waste generation and energy use. In other words, by protecting buildings we are making a direct and important contribution to sustainable development.

Valuable skills may be lost and forgotten

The loss of buildings from before 1900 at the present rate of 1 per cent per year, is a dramatic loss of an invaluable historical record.

Old buildings provide unique information on the use of materials

For generations, craftsmen tested different materials and the best ways of treating and using them. A hundred years ago, barely 50 different materials were used by the construction industry. All of them were thoroughly tried and tested, and their strengths and weaknesses were well known. Now, there are at least 40 000 different materials on the market, but in most cases we know little about their durability and how they will function in the long-term.

The loss of old buildings adds to pressure on the environment

Even though new buildings only make up 1-2 per cent of the total, the construction industry is one of the sectors that has most impact on the environment. In all, about 1.5 million tonnes of construction waste is generated every year, and about 1 million of this is generated by demolition and rehabilitation.

Buildings vulnerable to changes in farming practice

Fundamental social trends such as population growth, industrial development and the development of communications put pressure on both the architectural heritage and other cultural monuments and sites.

Since urbanization speeded up at the end of the 1800s, productive agricultural areas around the original town centres have been swallowed up. Towns and urban settlements are spreading across the landscape. Older agricultural buildings may fall into disrepair or be left isolated among newer developments, no longer part of a larger whole.

A great deal of our older architectural heritage is related to agriculture, and is therefore particularly vulnerable to the changes that are taking place in farming practices. In some areas, farms and even whole communities are abandoned, leaving the buildings to sink into decay. Major changes in land use, for example road and railway construction, are other examples of the pressures on the cultural heritage.

Older buildings are often considered inconvenient, and many owners and developers would prefer to replace them with modern buildings. Nevertheless, there is also a growing interest in restoring and repairing old, valuable buildings. For example, many new enterprises have found attractive new premises in converted industrial buildings in recent years.

Accelerating rate of loss

If the development of urban settlements and the modernization of agriculture continue at the present speed, it is unlikely that the demolition rate for old buildings will drop.

In addition, many buildings have been so extensively altered that they are almost unrecognizable.

Incorporating conservation into other activities

If we are to take better care of our architectural heritage, the idea of cultural heritage conservation must be incorporated into all relevant sectors and areas. Easy access to information on historically important buildings and architecture is essential to our success.

Comprehensive register of old buildings

Norway has a comprehensive register of older buildings, which provides a unique record on a global scale. From 2000, this has been made available to local authorities throughout the country in the official register of real estate, addresses and buildings. This is a powerful tool for integrating information on monuments and sites into municipal planning processes.

Municipalities play a key role in the conservation of buildings

Since the municipalities are responsible for dealing with building applications, they play a key role in the conservation of historical buildings. In addition, they can designate specific areas as conservation areas under the Planning and Building Act, thus giving valuable buildings some protection. 

Legal protection under the Cultural Heritage Act

The best way of ensuring that buildings are permanently protected is to give them legal protection under the Cultural Heritage Act. Protection orders are used for buildings and structures of national importance, and to ensure that protected buildings cover the whole range in terms of geography, social class, ethnicity and time periods. Several nationwide conservation plans for different types of historical buildings have been implemented in recent years.

Research is an important priority

An important priority if we are to succeed in protecting buildings permanently is research into natural processes of decay and their causes, and ways of preventing this and keeping the architectural heritage in good repair. Two important fields of research, which were also given a prominent place in the medieval buildings project run by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, are building up knowledge of traditional materials and developing expertise in traditional techniques.

The rapid changes taking place in society today are adding to the pressures on parts of the architectural heritage, for example in urban areas and old industrial sites. The cultural heritage authorities are therefore strongly involved in urban development processes in order to promote the importance of our architectural heritage in giving people a sense of identity and continuity, and thus for their welfare, and to show how conservation and development can be combined.

Research is also being conducted into environmental accounting and the overall economy of older town buildings to show that conservation is often a better alternative than demolition and new construction. These measures help to broaden the basis for cultural conservation and make it more likely that important parts of the cultural heritage will be preserved.

2.1. Stave churches

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The stave churches constitute a particularly valuable part of the Norwegian architectural heritage, and are considered to be of global as well as national importance. Their construction and richly decorated carvings show some of the finest craftsmanship to be seen anywhere in Norway.

Lomen stave church in Vestre Slidre in Oppland county. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Today there are only 28 churches left

Norway originally had between 1000 and 2000 stave churches. Impulses from abroad, along with traditional local craftsmanship, evolved into an architecture that is in a unique position internationally. Urnes stave church is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Today only 28 stave churches are still standing.

Like other medieval buildings and installations, the stave churches are automatically protected under the Cultural Heritage Act.

Natural decay and lack of maintenance

Stave churches have been deteriorating due to a combination of natural decay and lack of maintenance. The restoration and maintenance of stave churches and other wooden medieval buildings requires special expertise. We need to train craftsmen and make use of traditional knowledge of skills and materials. Upgrading safety system also requires special expertise. This is costly, and for many of the owners of stave churches, not possible without substantial grants from the state.

Some of the stave churches are very popular tourist destinations. Visits by tourists generate a considerable amount of activity and income opportunities for local communities. However, the stave churches are vulnerable to wear and tear. We must find ways of encouraging tourism that have positive local effects but also reduce wear and tear on the stave churches.

All have been restored

A number of the stave churches have been poorly maintained. The Directorate for Cultural Heritage therefore started a stave church restoration programme in 2001. The main purposes was to maintain the churches' historical value for posterity and their value as historical and economic resources for local communities. The programme was completed in 2015. All 28 churches have now been restored.

The work has been carried out in cooperation with the church owners and other local partners. The knowledge that has been gained in recent years of traditional building skills and materials has been vital. The church buildings have been the main focus of this work, but decorations and art work as well as the surrounding landscapes have also been taken into account.

Fire protection

All stave churches have fire protection systems to reduce the risk of irreplaceable buildings being damaged by fire or lost altogether. The systems are continiously maintained. All fire protection measures should be carried out with as little physical damage to the fabric of the building as possible, particularly to the medieval parts.

2.1.1. Borgund stave church

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Borgund stave church. Photo: hans Olav Stegarud, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Lærdal, Sogn og Fjordane

Built: 12th century

Alterations: Extended several times

Number of seats: No seating

Sources: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

 

2.1.2. Eidsborg stave church

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Eidsborg stave church. Photo: Jiri Havran, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Tokke, Telemark
 
Built: 12th-13th century
 
Alterations: Extended in 1845 and 1886

Number of seats: 80

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.3. Flesberg stave church

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Flesberg stave church in Buskerud. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Flesberg in Buskerud

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: Transepts were added in 1735 giving the church its characteristic cruciform shape. A new steeple was added in 1792, and the steeple was restored in 1992.

Number of seats: 200

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.4. Garmo stave church

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Garmo stave church was moved from Garmo to Maihaugen Museum in Lillehammer, Norway's largest open air museum outside Oslo, in 1921. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Built: The Middle Ages

Alterations: Extended in 1690/1730. Moved from Garmo around 1900 and erected at the Maihaugen Museum, Lillehammer, in 1921

Number of seats: 75

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.5. Gol stave church

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Gol stave church, now placed in the Folk Museum in Bygdøy (Oslo). Photo: Birger Lindstad, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage 

Location: Bygdøy in Oslo (in the Folk Museum).

Built: 12th-13th century.

Alterations: Removed from Gol in 1881 and erected in Oslo in 1884.

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings).

2.1.6. Grip stave church

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Grip stave church in Kristiansund in Møre and Romsdal county. Photo: Oddbjørn Sørmoen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Kristiansund, Møre og Romsdal

Built: The Middle Ages

Alterations: Enlarged in 1621, restored in 1933

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.7. Haltdalen stave church

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Holtålen stave church is an assembly of two churches from Haltdalen and Ålen is now placed in Trøndelag Folk Museum. Photo: Marcin Kaliński

Location: Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: Extended in 1704. Moved in 1881 and erected in Trøndelag Fylkesmuseum in 1920

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.8. Hedalen stave church

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Hedalen stave church. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Sør-Aurdal, Oppland

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: Extended in 1600 and 1730

Number of seats: 200

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.9. Heddal stave church

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Heddal stave church. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Notodden, Telemark

Built: 12th-13th century

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.10. Hegge stave church

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Hegge stave church. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Øystre Slidre, Oppland

Built: 12th-13th century.

Alterations: Altered several times.

Number of seats: 150.

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings).

2.1.11. Hopperstad stave church

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Hopperstad stave church. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Vik, Sogn og Fjordane.

Built: 12th-13th century.

Alterations: Restored by architect Blix in 1891.

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings).

 

2.1.12. Høre stave church

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Høre stave church. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Vang, Oppland.

Built: 12th-13th century.

Number of seats: 150.

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings).

2.1.13. Høyjord stave church

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Høyjord stave church. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Andebu, Vestfold

Built: The chancel was built during the late 1100s and the nave at the end of the 1200s.

Alterations: Restored in 1948.

Number of seats: 150.

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.14. Kaupanger stave church

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Kaupanger stave church. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: The church has been lengthened

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.15. Kvernes stave church

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Kvernes stave church on Averøy in Møre og Romsdal. Photo: Marcin Kaliński

Location: Averøy, Møre og Romsdal

Built: The Middle Ages

Alterations: A new chancel built of logs was constructed in 1633
 
Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage List of protected buildings

2.1.16. Lom stave church

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Lom stave church in Oppland. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Lom, Oppland

Built: 12th century

Alterations: Extended in 1633 and 1634

Number of seats: 350

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.17. Lomen stave church

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Lomen stave church in Vestre Slidre in Oppland county. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Vestre Slidre, Oppland

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: Extended in 1750

Number of seats: 150

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.18. Nore stave church

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Nore stave church in Buskerud. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Nore and Uvdal, Buskerud

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: A new chancel was added in 1683, transepts in 1709 and 1714, porch in 1723, and sacristy in 1772

Number of seats: Approximately 150

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.19. Øye stave church

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Øye stave church in Vang in Oppland county. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Vang, Oppland

Built: The Middle Ages

Alterations: Erected in 1960

Number of seats: 100

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.20. Reinli stave church

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Reinli stave church in Sør-Aurdal in Oppland county. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Sør-Aurdal, Oppland

Built: 13th century

Alterations: Extended during the late Middle Ages

Number of seats: 64

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.21. Ringebu stave church

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Ringebu stave church in Oppland county. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Ringebu, Oppland

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: Extended in 1630 with a taller steeple and new transepts

Number of seats: 300

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.22. Rødven stave church

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Rødven stave church in Rauma in Møre og Romsdal county. Photo: Jiri Havran, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Rauma, Møre og Romsdal

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: A chancel was added around 1600 and a sacristy in 1651

Number of seats: Approximately 100

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.23. Røldal stave church

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Røldal stave church in Odda in Hordaland county. Photo: Leif Anker, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Odda, Hordaland

Built: The Middle Ages

Alterations: Restored in 1917

Number of seats: 130

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.24. Rollag stave church

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Rollag stave church in Buskerud county. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Rollag, Buskerud

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: Extended with logs, windows in 1652, new chancel in 1666, transept in 1697-98, gallery in 1702, sacristy in 1739

Number of seats: 160

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.25. Torpo stave church

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Torpo stave church in Ål in Buskerud county. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Ål in Buskerud

Built: 12th century

Remodelled: The chancel was torn down in 1880. The materials were then used in construction of the adjoining church

Number of seats: 200

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/The Directorate for Cultural Heritage's List of protected buildings

2.1.26. Undredal stave church

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Undredal stave church in Aurland in Sogn og Fjordane county. Photo: Marcin Kaliński

Location: Aurland, Sogn og Fjordane

Built: The Middle Ages

Alterations: Extended in 1722

Number of seats: 40

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

 

2.1.27. Urnes stave church

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Urnes stave church in Luster in Sogn og Fjordane county. Photo: Dagfinn Rasmussen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Luster, Sogn og Fjordane

Built:12th century

Alterations: Extended in 1601

Number of seats: 100

Urnes stavkirke is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage. The list contains areas or objects of irreplaceable value from a cultural or environmental point of view

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

2.1.28. Uvdal stave church

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Uvdal stave church in Buskerud county. Photo: Jiri Havran, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Location: Nore and Uvdal, Buskerud

Built: 12th-13th century

Alterations: The nave was elongated during the 14th century, a new chancel was built in 1684, a transept which gives the church its characteristic cruciform shape was added in 1723, and the sacristy in 1819

Number of seats: 170

Source: Encyclopaedia of Norwegian churches, 1993/ Directorate for Cultural Heritage (List of protected buildings)

3. Cultural environments

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Today, the conservation of integrated cultural environments is of growing importance – the integration of monuments and sites that tell us something about ordinary people's lives and activities. A cultural environment is an area where monuments and objects form part of an integrated whole.

The village of Sogndalstrand was formally declared a small town (ladested) in 1798 and flourished mainly around 1875. It was protected in 2005, in order to preserve a small coastal town of national value. Photo: Kjell Andresen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The protected cultural environment Tinfos in Notodden includes power plants, administrative buildings and homes for the workers. Photo: © Per Berntsen

The protection of Kongsberg silver mines were adopted by the King in Council in 2003. The protection order covers an area of 30.6 km2, which bears many traces of a 300-year history of mining, including both the mines themselves and buildings and other structures on the surface. Photo: Birger Lindstad, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The protected cultural environment Birkelunden is a central part of Grünerløkka in Oslo. The protection of Birkelunden is intended to preserve a city environment of national value. Both the buildings and open areas are protected. In the public areas this will ensure the future of the existing parks and green areas. The streets are also protected. Photo: Lene Buskoven, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Ten cultural environments are protected by law

The term "cultural environment" was introduced into the Cultural Heritage Act in 1992. A new provision provided the legal authority to protect a cultural environment because of the value of the area as a whole, even if protection of the individual elements would not be justified.

Cultural environments may appear in towns and urban areas, in the agricultural landscape or in forested and other uncultivated areas.

Examples of what may be designated as a cultural environment include a cluster of historically valuable farm buildings round a courtyard, situated in an agricultural landscape that still shows characteristic features of traditional farming methods, or a fishing village with houses, boathouses, quays and other buildings and installations related to fishing activities. An industrial area with factories and workers' houses is also a cultural environment.

So far, ten cultural environments in Norway are protected by law:

Many cultural environments that are recognized as valuable are protected under the Planning and Building Act. The Nature Diversity Act can also provide some protection for cultural environments.

Awareness of the influence of change

Conservation of cultural environments is based on an awareness that all the features of an area are related and form an integrated whole, and that all parts of the environment have a meaningful relationship to each other. This means that changes to or disturbance of one aspect of a cultural environment may alter its whole character in the same way as large-scale development.

Some examples of changes of one element of an environment that may alter its character as a whole are demolition or reconstruction of buildings, and alteration of the facades of buildings. Changes in farming practices may also alter both the ecological functions and the aesthetic aspects of an agricultural environment as a whole.

Cultural heritage considerations need to be included

Cultural heritage conservation and considerations need to be integrated into planning and development processes at local, regional and national levels. Cultural heritage considerations need to be included at an early stage of planning processes, as part of the basis for decisions in various sectors. This is particularly important if land use issues or changes of land use are involved.

3.1. Birkelunden

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The part of Oslo that is now called Grünerløkka was originally farmland. Until the end of the 1850s the area between the river Akerselva and the creek Torshovbekken was practically uninhabited. But many factories were already established along the river.

Birkelunden protected cultural environment. Today we find cafes and restaurants on all sides of the park in and in the back yards. Photo: Lene Buskoven, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

In 2006, Birkelunden Park and the surrounding area were protected. Photo: Anders Amlo, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Municipality: Oslo
County: Oslo
Protection Order adopted by the King in Council on 28.04.2006 

The area of Grünerløkka was developed as a result of the industrial age and through the rapid expansion in other areas of the city. As it was farmland, it was possible to develop a comprehensive plan for the development of this area, which gives the area a unified impression.

The area that is now protected is called Birkelunden, and is a central part of Grünerløkka. It consists of 15 blocks with 139 apartment buildings, the Paulus church the Grünerløkka School and Birkelunden Park.

City environment of national value

The formal protection of Birkelunden is intended to preserve a city environment of national value. Both the buildings and open areas are protected. In the public areas this will ensure the future of the existing parks and green areas. The streets are also protected.

Birkelunden is a popular and vibrant part of the inner city of Oslo. It is important to keep this part of the city as an attractive area for urban life, both as a residential and commercial area.

The map shows part of the protected cultural environment Birkelunden in Oslo. You can zoom in  further to see more details.

3.2. Coastal heritage

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Norway is a coastal nation. Throughout history, large sections of the population have had their income from the sea. Therefore, a large number of cultural monuments are found along the Norwegian coast. Knowledge of life at sea is an important part of our cultural heritage.

The remains of Markøy Lighthouse, built in the 18th century. Photo: Danckert Monrad-Krohn, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Decay in some areas

Many coastal environments are in danger of deterioration and decay, due to depopulation in parts of the country. This applies in particular to environments that illustrate everyday life and activities along the coast, such as ports, fishing villages, smallholdings, boatbuilders' yards, boathouses, quays and slipways. In other parts of the country, on the other hand, the cultural heritage of the coast is well taken care of.

Both development and decay are threats

There have been major structural changes in trade and industry along the Norwegian coast, and in people's way of life. In Eastern and Southern Norway, there is pressure to develop the coastal strip.

Today's summer visitors want far more in the way of comfort and luxuries, and their lifestyle is in stark contrast to the frugal way of life of earlier islanders, in particular. In some places, the overall character of the coastal landscape has been changed due to new developments and settlements.

In Western Norway, and even more in Northern Norway, the regions where fishing has been the mainstay of people's lives, the main problem is depopulation and abandonment of settlements. This often leads to rapid decay of buildings and installations in the harsh climate. This trend is the result of important ecological, technological, economic and political changes. The most exposed cultural environments deteriorate quickly when they are no longer in use, and many valuable buildings and installations have been lost during the last decades.

Cooperation on the protection of coastal heritage

The Directorate for Cultural Heritage cooperates with a wide range of sectoral, regional and local authorities and NGOs to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the coast.

A joint action plan for coastal culture 2011-2014 was prepared in cooperation with the Directorate of Fisheries, the Norwegian Coastal Administration and the Arts Council Norway. The maritime museums also participate in the follow-up of the work.

Protection of  coastal heritage

The first conservation of a coastal cultural environment took place as early as in the 1920s, when the traditional trading center Rugsund in Bremanger in Western Norway was protected. Today several vessels and lighthouses are also protected. One of the most recent protections is the seaport Ny-Hellesund in Southern Norway, which was protected in 2016.

Identity and business development

Based on their cultural heritage value, many towns and villages along the coast have potential for new development. One example is the small coastal town of Risør. By maintaining its old wooden houses it has succeeded in combining identity building and business development. Today, art and culture form the basis of most developments in Risør.

3.3. Kongsberg silver mines

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With its 300-year-old history of mining, the Kongsberg silver mines is an industrial heritage of great value – at both a national and international level. It was protected following a decision of the King in Council in 2003.

The Kongsberg silver mines bears many traces of a 300-year history of mining, including both the mines themselves and buildings and other structures on the surface. Photo: Birger Lindstad, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

In the mine’s heyday in 1770, it employed 4 000 people.  At the time Kongsberg was Norway’s second-largest town after Bergen. Today it is just a medium-sized town by Norwegian standards. Photo: Knud Knudsen

Municipality: Kongsberg
County: Buskerud
Protection order adopted by the King in Council on 15 May 2003

The protection order covers an area of 30.6 km2, which bears many traces of a 300-year history of mining, including both the mines themselves and buildings and other structures on the surface.

The Kongsberg silver mines were in operation from 1623 to 1958. It was the first permanent mine in Norway. This used to be Norway’s most important mining operation and one of the largest silver mines in Europe. A total of 1 350 tonnes of silver was produced here, together with a substantial amount of copper. The copper and most of the silver were used in coins.

In the mine’s heyday in 1770, it employed 4 000 people. In addition, about 2 000 farmers were involved in producing and transporting the timber needed for the mine. At the time Kongsberg was Norway’s second-largest town after Bergen. Today it is just a medium-sized town by Norwegian standards,

The long history of mining has left a very characteristic landscape in this area. There are large numbers of trial pits, shaft openings and slag heaps on the surface, and an extensive system of mine galleries underground.

The area also contains a complex system of lakes and artificial channels that provided water power for the mines, many valuable buildings, and fascinating industrial installations. This all makes for a varied and interesting cultural environment, and today the area is also an important outdoor recreation area.

The map shows the protected cultural environment Kongsberg silver mines. You can zoom in and out of the map for more or detail or a better overview.

3.4. Neiden – an Eastern Sami settlement

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Skoltebyen in Neiden was originally the old summer settlement of the Eastern (Skolt) Saami in this part of Finnmark. When the establishment of national borders in the 19th century forced them to choose which country they preferred to live in, it became their permanent settlement.

Skoltebyen in Neiden is situated by the river Neiden, and was originally the old summer settlement of the Eastern (Skolt) Saami in this part of Finnmark. Photo: Arve Kjersheim, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Over 100 skeletons have been found in the area where there used to be a Russian Orthodox graveyard. Photo: Arve Kjersheim, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The Eastern Saami form a minority group among the Saami and have belonged to the Russian Orthodox faith ever since the 1500s. The protected area includes the Russian Orthodox chapel, St. Georg's Chapel. Photo: Asgeir Svestad/Line Bårdseng, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Municipality: Sør-Varanger
County: Finnmark
Protection order adopted by the King in Council in September 2000
Area: about 230 700 m2 

Neiden became the main settlement of the westernmost siida of the Eastern Saami and has remained relatively unchanged, leaving numerous traces of earlier use of the area intact. A siida was the fundamental unit of the old Saami society, indicating both the area as well as the family group(s) exploiting it

The Eastern Saami form a minority group among the Saami and are distinct from other groups in a number of ways. There are differences between their language and other forms of Saami, and Russian culture has had a strong influence on the Eastern Saami. They have for instance belonged to the Russian Orthodox faith ever since the 1500s.

The protected area in Skoltebyen includes a number of different monuments, some of which are old enough (i.e. more than 100 years) to be automatically protected under the Cultural Heritage Act. These include a Russian Orthodox graveyard, the ruins of a so-called smoke sauna, sixteen sites of traditional turf huts known as gammer and a tiny (only 13 m2) Russian Orthodox chapel, St. Georg's Chapel. In addition, many of the natural features of the area have been and are being used in religious ceremonies, such as baptism.

The formal protection (scheduling) of the settlement was carried out in order to safeguard its historical and religious importance as well as the integrity of the landscape. This is the most important cultural heritage site for the Eastern Saami and their surviving culture in Norway. The protection order was issued in order to prevent the area from being developed in a way that would reduce its significance and cultural value, while at the same time encouraging use that will communicate, maintain and develop the Eastern Saami culture. The protection order does not affect the commercial salmon fishing in the Neiden River nor other commercial activities in the area.

The map shows the protected cultural environment Neiden, in Finnmark county. You can zoom in or out to explore further.

3.5. Sogndalstrand

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The village of Sogndalstrand was formally declared a small town (ladested) in 1798 and flourished mainly around 1875. The following 100 years involved little change or development locally. This makes Sogndalstrand a rare and important example of a Norwegian coastal town from the pre-industrial age. Most of the cultural landscape is also preserved, providing us with an insight into so-called ”town farming”.

The street Strandgata in the village of Sogndalstrand. Photo: Kjell Andresen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The mouth of the River Sokna divides Sogndalstrand into two parts. On the western side are the urban wooden houses along the main street, with seaside buildings along the river harbour. The eastern side, Åros, consisted originally of a cluster-type (multi-family) farm with strip-partitioned infields and a common outfield area. Photo: Kjell Andresen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Seaside buildings and boats in the early 1900s when Sogndalstrand was a trading center for surrounding areas. Photo: Anders Beer Wilse

Cultural landscape from Sogndalstrand. A stone fence separates the infields from the common outfield area, according to traditional West Norwegian customs. Photo: Kjell Andresen, Riksantikvaren

 

Municipality: Sokndal
County: Rogaland
Protection Order adopted by the King in Council on 24.06.2005

Urban wooden houses and cluster-type farms

The mouth of the River Sokna divides the settlement into two parts. On the western side are the urban wooden houses along the main street, with seaside buildings along the river harbour. Most properties also have a narrow strip of agricultural land running from the settlement towards the sea in the west.

The eastern side, Åros, consisted originally of a cluster-type (multi-family) farm with strip-partitioned infields and a common outfield area, according to traditional West Norwegian customs. Today, parts of the infields contain modern housing, but the main elements and large parts of the overall landscape are still intact.

Coastal village of national value

The formal protection of Sogndalstrand is meant to preserve a small coastal town of national value, which developed from a mixture of maritime industries and agriculture. Large areas of the cultural landscape around the old town have since the 1970s been under pressure from developments involving houses and holiday cottages. This is the reason for issuing a Protection Order now.

Sogndalstrand Culture hotel established

After 100 years of slow stagnation, there is again life in the old town, and most houses have been done up. Sogndalstrand Culture Hotel has been established, and several small shops are open during the summer months. Approximately 140 people live in the town permanently, and in addition nearly half of the houses are used as holiday homes.

The map shows the protected cultural environment Sogndalstrand, in Rogaland county. You can zoom in and out to explore further.

3.6. The Havrå farm

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The Havrå farm is unique in both historical and architectural terms. It lies in a dramatic fjord landscape, and is an example of a Western Norwegian cluster-type farm with a variety of farm buildings and the surrounding farmland.

Havrå farm. Photo: Anke Loska, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The Havrå farm is an example of a Western Norwegian cluster-type farm, and dates back to the 1300s. Those cluster-type farms are the closest we come to a village structure in Norway. Photo: Anne-Mari Olsen

The proximity to the sea was important, both for access to fishing and for transport to the nearest towns. Photo: Anke Loska, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The buildings were designed to provide good ventilation for grain and hay. Photo: Unknown, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Municipality: Osterøy
County: Hordaland
Protection order adopted by the King in Council on 4 December 1998

The Havrå farm was the first cultural environment in Norway to be protected under section 20 of the Cultural Heritage Act.

The complex consists of eight holdings. The farm was run on traditional lines up to the 1950s, but the farmland has gradually fallen into disuse since then. The year 1950 is used as an important historical reference point in protection order, and farming techniques that will restore the traditional cultural landscape are encouraged.

The protected area covers 200 hectares, In addition, four of the buildings have been protected separately under the Cultural Heritage Act. One of the buildings, Gulliksbua, has been shown to date back to the Middle Ages, and is therefore automatically protected under the Cultural Heritage Act. It has stood on the same site since the 1200s. This means that both the exterior and the interior of these five buildings are protected, while only the exterior of the remaining buildings is protected.

The map shows the protected cultural environment Havrå in Hordaland county. You can zoom in to see more details, or you can zoom out to see more of the surroundings.

3.7. Utstein Abbey

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The cultural environment around Utstein Abbey in Rogaland was protected in 1999. The central feature of the area is the abbey itself, which is the best-preserved medieval abbey in Norway. During its history, Utstein has been the seat of a Viking chieftain, a king’s manor, an abbey and a private residence.

Utstein abbey at Mosterøy in Rogaland was built in the mid 1200s and is the best-preserved abbey in Norway. The surrounding countryside has retained its open character. Photo: Kjell Andresen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The abbey in the early 20th century, before restoration. Photo: Unknown, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage  

The church is devoted to St. Laurentius. It is the only church in Norway that has the tower placed in the middle. Photo: Iselin Brevik, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The monks who lived here belonged to the Augustinian order. There are traces in the area that indicate that there have been several buildings adjacent to the abbey. Photo: Kjell Andresen, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Municipality: Rennesøy
County: Rogaland
Protection order adopted by the King in Council on 17 December 1999

The area shows traces of human occupation and agriculture from the Stone Age to the present day. The characteristic landscape, formed by traditional agricultural techniques over many generations, is one important reason for the decision to protect the area. The protection order applies to properties that are still run as farms today. It covers about 250 hectares of the islands Klosterøy and Fjøløy, and surrounding areas of the fjord, including the bay where the abbey is situated.

The open landscape with its long history of use, and its relationship with the restored abbey buildings and the surrounding broad-leaved trees, make this a very distinctive cultural environment which is unique in Norway.

The map shows the protected cultural environment Utstein Abbey in Rogaland county. You can zoom in and out to explore further.

4. World heritage

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The UNESCO World Heritage List contains areas or objects which are an irreplaceable part of the world´s cultural or natural heritage. Norway has eight sites on the list.

Bryggen in Bergen was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. The characteristic rows of parallel houses with gables facing the sea demonstrate a type of architecture that has been maintained for a period of close to 900 years. Photo: Anders Amlo, Cultural Heritage

The Rock Drawings of Alta constitute the most important piece of evidence in favour of the existence of human activity in the confines of the Great North during the prehistoric period. At the World Heritage Site there are more than 3000 rock art figures. Photo: Line Bårdseng, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The World Heritage Site on the west coast of Norway comprises of Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord. Geologically, the area may be characterised as an extremely well-developed example of a classic fjord landscape. View of Geirangerfjord. Photo: Lene Buskoven

Røros Mining Town was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1980. An expanded area around the town was inscribed in 2010. Photo: Guri Dahl ©Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Urnes stave church is the oldest and one of the best preserved stave churches in Norway. In 2010 the church was re-opened after a two-year restoration. Photo: Leif Anker, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Vega Archipelago on the Helgeland coast was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004. The entry on the List is also regarded as a tribute to the now unique practice of eider down harvesting. Photo: Egil Murud, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The town of Rjukan was established around Norsk Hydro's industry. The whole town was planned by architects  Photo: © Per Berntsen

World Heritage List

An international convention, The World Heritage Convention, was adopted in 1972. The aim is to give special protection to places that because of their universal value must be regarded as part of the world heritage for future generations and for the whole of humanity.

The World Heritage List includes areas or objects protected under the World Heritage Convention. Norway ratified the convention in 1977, and has eight sites on the list. This includes four Norwegian points of measurements are part of the international site The Struve Geodetic Arc. 

Tentative list

The Tentative List is an inventory of those properties which each State Party intends to consider for nomination, i.e. properties which they consider to be cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List.

Click on a name for more information on the different world heritage sites

4.1. Bryggen in Bergen

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During the later Middle Ages, Bryggen (the old wharf) in Bergen was a centre of lively international commercial activity. The characteristic rows of parallel houses with gables facing the sea demonstrate a type of architecture that has been maintained for a period of close to 900 years.

Bryggen in Bergen. Photo: Anders Amlo, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Inscribed on World Heritage List in 1979

The properties on Bryggen were composed of one or two long rows of houses with a common passageway. They were combined dwelling and storage houses. Each property had a dock area of its own with a storehouse and a luffing-jib crane.

Only at the beginning of the 20th century did the traditional use of the Bryggen area come to an end. With the changes in commercial relations and new means of communication, a 700-800 year long tradition was broken.

Bryggen in Bergen was protected under the Cultural Heritage Act in 1927.

4.2. Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site

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Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site stands out as an example of a new global industry in the early 20th century.

Arc furnace was Kristian Birkelands patent to produce nitrogen dioxide that was used in fertilizers. Photo: © Per Berntsen

Vemork, built by Norsk Hydro, was the world's largest hydroelectric power plant when it opened in 1911. Photo: © Per Berntsen

The industrial towns of Rjukan and Notodden in Telemark county in Norway are outstanding examples of a ground-breaking industrial development and a testament to the social transformation that took place in the Western world at the beginning of the 20th century. This was a time when scientific and technological progress interlocked with economic and political factors and created what is known as 'the second industrial revolution'.

In 2015, Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site was adopted by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. The site includes power stations, factories, transport systems and company towns.

4.3. Rock Art of Alta

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The Rock Art of Alta are the largest known collection of rock carvings in Northern Europe made by hunter-gatherers. The first carvings were uncovered in 1973. They are between 6200 and 2000 years old.

Rock Art of Alta. Photo: Bjørn Helberg, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Inscribed on World Heritage List in 1985

The Rock Art of Alta were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1985. What make the rock carvings in Alta so unique is that they are so varied and include so many different figures. At the four uncovered fields there are more than 5000 figures.

The most common pictures are of animals, especially reindeer and moose. But there are other animals such as bear, birds and fish, often there are objects such as fishing nets, spears and boats, as well as people in a variety of activities.

Many of the figures display high artistic quality, and are very well preserved. They were made by people who lived by hunting, gathering and fishing. Most of the figures are relatively small, between 20 and 40 cm high. Some of them are relatively naturalistic; others are more geometric and stylised.

4.4. Røros Mining Town and the Circumference

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Røros Mining Town was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1980. An extension of the world heritage area and the determination of a buffer zone was added to the list in 2010.

Røros Mining Town. Photo: © Guri Dahl

Inscribed on World Heritage List in 1980  

The structure and the built-up area of the town reflect the basis for the community's existence, which was agriculture and mining. Mining in Røros started in 1644, and the mines were in continuous operation until 1977. The settlement grew up around the river Hitterelva, which provided power for the copper works.

Most of the town burned down in 1678 and 1679. The square-grid renaissance pattern of the town streets were kept when the town was rebuilt. The built-up area of Røros has developed slowly and without dramatic events, and can boast of representative buildings from 1700 and 1800 as well as buildings from our own century.

Eighty buildings are protected according the Cultural Heritage Act. An extension of the world heritage area and the determination of a buffer zone was added to the list in 2010. The site now comprises the town and its industrial-rural cultural landscapes; Femundshytta, a smelter with its associated area; and the Winter Transport Route.

4.5. Struve Geodetic Arc

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Struve Geodetic Arch is the first technical-scientific cultural object inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. It was inscribed on the list in 2005.

The column at Hammerfest is one of the points of measurement. Photo: the Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Inscribed on World Heritage List in 2005

Struve Geodetic Arc was the first scientific survey on a large scale in Europe. It represented the first accurate measuring of a long segment of a meridian. This helped to establish the exact size and shape of the planet and marked an important step in the development of earth sciences and topographic mapping. 

The work was carried out under the leadership of Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve in the years 1816 to 1855. Struve Geodetic Arc is unique in its extent and quality, and an important part of the history of geodetic science.

Cross-border cooperation

The World Heritage Site is comprised of 34 points of measurement between the Arctic Ocean and the outlet of River Danube. The points of measurement are placed in all the 10 countries the arc passes through; Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.

All the points of measurements have one form or another of monumentation – be it a hole in rock, an iron bolt, a cairn, an obelisk or pillar. The points in Norway are:

  • The obelisk in Hammerfest
  • Summit Lille Raipas (Unna Ráipásas) in Alta
  • Summit Luvddiidcohkka (Lodiken) in Kautokeino
  • Summit Bealjásvárri/Muvravárri in Kautokeino

4.6. The Vega Archipelago

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The Vega Archipelago on the Helgeland coast comprises 1037 square kilometres of open cultural landscape made up of a myriad of islands, islets and skerries, where fishing and trapping have been taking place for ten thousand years.

Vega Archipelago. Photo: Jon Brænne, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

 

Inscribed on World Heritage List in 2004

The archipelago was chosen to be represented on the World Heritage List because it fulfils the cultural landscape criteria, and was the first larger Norwegian area to be registered on the list in 2004.

The universal value of the Vega Archipelago lies in the way the area had handed down history and cultural traditions evolved on an exposed coast with rich natural resources.

As the first islands gradually became settled, the characteristic landscape was shaped little by little through the interplay between fisherman-farmers and inhospitable, but rich nature. New commercial enterprises have left few traces to break the long lines back in time.  

Reasons for the UNESCOs decision:

"The Vega archipelago reflects the way generations of fishermen/farmers have, over the past 1500 years, maintained a sustainable living in an inhospitable seascape near the Arctic Circle, based on the now unique practice of eider down harvesting, and it also celebrates the contribution made by women to the eider down process."

4.7. The West Norwegian Fjords

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The Norwegian coastline is more heavily dissected by fjords than that of any other country in the world, and the term fjord is of Norwegian origin.

Nærøyfjord. Photo: Ragnhild Hoel

Inscribed on World Heritage List in 2005

The World Heritage Site on the west coast of Norway comprises of Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord. The two fjords are situated 120 kilometres from each other and they are separated by the Jostedal glacier.

Geologically, the area may be characterised as an extremely well-developed example of a classic fjord landscape. The myriad of fjords and inland waterways represents a major assemblage of glaciated landscape features which have dominated communities, life styles and trading patterns in Western Norway for centuries.

Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord posess a unique combination of glacial landforms at the same time as each area is characterised by its own outstanding natural beauty. They display values that stem from the spectacular scenery and the pristine and unspoilt character of the areas.

4.8. Urnes Stave Church

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Urnes stave church is exceptional among the 28 remaining stave churches in Norway as regards architecture and style history. The church was built around year 1130 and is one of our oldest and best-preserved stave churches.

Urnes stave church. Photo: Leif Anker, Directorate for Cultural Heritage

Inscribed on World Heritage List in 1979

Urnes stave church is an example of very skilled craftsmanship and has exceptionally fine wooden carvings. It was once a private church for a powerful high-born family at Urnes. The builders were aware of international trends in architecture, and transferred these trends from stone to wood. The interior of the church is exceptionally richly decorated.

Urnes church has been and still is in use, and the church equipment is also a part of the history. In the church there is a preserved lathe turned chair from the 12th century.

Following the Reformation pews were installed for the congregation, a pulpit in 1695 and a new altar in the choir in 1699. The new choir addition from the 17th century was decorated with hierarchical décor and standing apostles.

Urnes church is protected according to the Cultural Heritage Act.

Urnes stave church was restored and reopened in 2010.