Borgund Stave Church — Attraction in Lærdal

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to formally express my deep disappointment and concern regarding the experience my group had during our recent visit to your church in Norway.

Our group, consisting of international visitors from Australia, arrived without a reservation. We fully understood that access to the interior of the church might require prior booking, and we were not requesting a guided tour or any special access. However, we kindly offered to purchase tickets simply to take photos, to use the café as paying customers, and even to use the restroom facilities for a fee — all of which were firmly denied without consideration.

It was particularly disconcerting to witness that individual visitors just ahead of us were allowed entry into the café without any reservation. This inconsistency in policy enforcement raises questions of fairness and transparency.

The staff member on duty, Mr. Warner Welling, repeatedly and curtly responded with “no” to all of our reasonable requests, without any explanation or attempt to assist or accommodate our situation — even when we explained that we had traveled a long distance from Australia. There were no signs of overcrowding or time constraints that would have prevented our brief visit. His dismissive tone and lack of hospitality were shocking, especially towards one of our senior guests, a 70-year-old woman, to whom he was unnecessarily rude.

Having worked in the travel industry for over 25 years, I understand the importance of upholding policies. However, hospitality and basic courtesy — especially in a religious and touristic space — should never be compromised. Turning away respectful, paying visitors under such inflexible and impolite terms reflects poorly on the institution and, unfortunately, on Norway’s reputation as a welcoming travel destination.

I am therefore submitting this formal complaint not only to your organization but also intend to report this experience to Visit Norway (the Norwegian Tourist Board), as I believe that international guests deserve respectful treatment and clear, consistently applied policies.

I hope that you will take this matter seriously and provide appropriate staff training to ensure that future visitors are treated with the dignity and hospitality...

Our group stopped here as some wanted to look at the church and we also wanted to stop for lunch.

After looking around for a bit we were stopped by an employee who asked if we had tickets. No, since we only wanted lunch, we have been here before to have a guided tour so didn't need that, although 4 of our group went on to go look at the church.

The employee let us know we couldn't buy food or even stay there if we didn't purchase a ticket. Of course we left, and while waiting for the others to come back, one in our group had been told that we could come in and buy lunch anyways, because some of our group had bought tickets for the church. (This is just bizarre)

There were some soup leftovers as the only alternative to watm food, along with some croissant sandwiches. Coffee and some pieces of cake.

Overpriced to heck and back. I am saying this, and I am a Norwegian myself and still have to say, very overpriced.

And get this. The bathrooms were closed off. Out of order or something like that, but they were still selling drinks and food.

All in all, there is a roof over your head, and severly overpriced food, if you find any of the few food options to be of interest. If you are let in. Might have to buy a ticket first. Might not. Depends on the employees it seems like.

At least the food didn't make me sick, so not completely horrible. Which is why I'm leaving a 2 star rating instead of one.

If you are planning on stopping here along your route, there might be better options a bit further on. Like the nearest gas station. It's cheaper, they don't require a ticket, there are more food options and they have...

We visited the church last year and in June 2018 we tried to get a coffee there... We rush to the visitor center and immediately head for the café, which is located in the back of the modern building. A young cashier stands in the way and asks strictly, but in perfect English, what we want so without a ticket? We explain our intention to just have a coffee and cake! No, we already know the church, no thanks, we do not want to visit it again. Our disappointment is huge when he politely but definitely explains us, no sightseeing ticket no visitor center, no visitor center no café. Moment! For real?! We have to buy a ticket, even if we do not want to enter the church and only here coffee and cake and ev. Something from the souvenir shop? We vacillate between disappointment and anger. 90 NOK per person entrance fee for nothing? What that miserable rip-off ?! Especially since you can see the church from the outside, on the Fv530 even passes by! But the young man does not let himself be softened and we leave angry and disappointed. No, we do not go along with...