Hove steinkyrkje — Local services in Vik

The erection of the simple sacred building dates back to around 1170. According to historians, the church may have been built by a landowner as a private church. Today's church is possibly the successor building of a still preferred church. Overall, only a few facts have survived about the construction of the church. However, there is a legend about the structure: “A Hove citizen has been sentenced to death for a crime. However, if he could build a stone church within a week, he would be exempted from punishment. He went to Hov Hill, where the church is today, and was in despair because of the almost impossible task. A stranger passed by and the condemned man told him his story. The stranger promised him help and that the church would be ready soon. He did not want payment if the convict found out his name by the time the construction work was completed. If he does not succeed in this, he must come with the stranger. The convict agreed to the deal and desperately tried to find out the name of the stranger. When the workers already paid by the stranger built the tower, the condemned man began to cry in despair. Suddenly he heard a child in the mountains crying too. The mother reassured the child with the words "Soon your father, Ivar Vinkjell, will come back home with human flesh". When the man dies, he listens to church again. The stranger was about to fasten the top of the church tower. The man walked around the church and said, "I think the top is a little crooked, Ivar Vinkjell." When Vinkjell heard his name, he fell from the...

An easy hike from Vik, this is a restored stone church. It dates from the 11th century. The stone is mostly soapstone. On the south side of the tower is a relief in memory of the horses that assisted in the reconstruction. The interior walls have restored painted wall decorations. There are carved stylized animals holding up the roof beams. There is a restored tapestry. The church is used for concerts because of the good acoustics. It is not wheelchair accessible. Guided tours can...

A great old stone church dating back hundreds of years. The National Trust of Norway had a guide here so we could take a 15 minute tour which really added to it. Inside you can see the burial place of Peter Andreas Blix. Ample parking opposite....