USA ~Hopperstad Stave Church~

Tody is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year...and I received a pretty church in a lovely winterscene... feels a bit weird!:D Thanks Ruth!!



With great stamps too!!













Built in 1998 and donated to the City of Moorhead,by Guy Paulson, the Hopperstad Stave Church is a replica of the c.1150 original preserved in Vik, Norway. The Historical and Cultural Society provides guided tours year round.
The church is constructed of cedar, redwood, and pine using the medieval post and beam construction. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks and the load-bearing posts, called stav in Norwegian, is what gives the building technique its name. Stave churches are decorated in intricate carvings featuring various Viking symbols like dragons, lions, and mythical creatures based on the heritage of Viking pagan art.