Røldal stavkirke and winter in Haukelifjell

It was Sunday morning when I got in the car and returned to Oslo. It was still dark outside and it was raining from the sky. I had 430 kilometers to drive all day, so I didn’t have to hurry. Rush was not advisable, because in the Haukeli mountains, through which the road led me, winter conditions prevailed. At one point, the falling rain was replaced by snow and as I approached the town of Røldal it began to slowly clear. I decided that I could take a short break and stop at the local stave church, which I had not visited for a long time.
The Røldal stave church was built in the 13th century. Since then, it has been expanded several times, among others, an external gallery has been added, running around the old walls. Internal decorations come mainly from the 17th century. The baroque altar, benches and pulpit were decorated with biblical motifs and texts.
The crucifix above the entrance to the choir is from 1250. It was believed to have healing power. During July services organized on the occasion of local fairs, the cross was covered with sweat, which supposedly had healing properties. It is not known if any healings have occurred. Most likely, the crucifix sweating was only the result of the condensation of steam formed in the crowded, stuffy interior of the temple. Nevertheless, Røldal has been a popular pilgrimage destination for centuries, and local residents and the village have benefited.
Many of the original elements of the Røldal church are now in the Bergen museum. These include, among others, the sculpture of Saint Olav from 1250 or the sculpture of the Virgin Mary and child, also from 1250.
The church still holds services, usually during the summer months. Guided tours are also possible. A single ticket costs 50 kr.

In the winter installment, the building looked incredibly fabulous. However, I still had a lot to ride, so I ended my visit to Røldal and went on.
On the road I stopped several times in the Haukeli area, enchanted by the winter landscapes outside. Then I got out of the car and stared admiringly at the snow-covered slopes of the mountains and the white spaces of the lakes Tveitevatn or Grungevatn stretching into the distance. My only regret was that there are so few places along the way where you can stop and stretch your bones while admiring the nature that surrounds me.