Evenes church and church site

Evenes

Evenes Church is a historic wooden church in Evenes, western Evenes municipality. The church site dates back to around 1250 and tells a central part of Ofoten's early history.

Highlights

  • See a cruciform church from 1800 with a mansard roof and old Danish manor house style
  • Experience a church site with roots back to the first church in Ofoten
  • Learn about Evenes as a former regional center for the whole of Ofoten
  • Explore the cultural environment around the church, the vicarage, Bårstua and Stabburet
  • Continue towards Evenesvika, Evenestangen, Steinkirka and the war memorials in the area
  • Departs from: Take off from the E10 at Nautå, right near the junction to Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes.
  • Suitable for: Children 8+

Description

Evenes Church stands on one of the most historically important church sites in Ofoten. From ancient times, Evenes was a regional center for the whole of Ofoten, long before Narvik became a city and before today's traffic arteries tied the region together. Around 1250, Håkon Håkonsson had the first church in Ofoten built here.

Today's church was erected in 1800 and is a cruciform church in wood, built in old Danish manor house style, also referred to as Biedermeier. The building has a mansard roof and 460 seats. Inside the church there are older objects, including a baptismal font from the 1200s that dates from the first church on the site.

The church site has had strong local and regional significance. Evenes church, Bårstua, the vicarage and Stabburet are highlighted as part of the history of Evenes as the center of Ofoten, and the church site was chosen as Evenes municipality's millennium site. Just below the church is Evenes vicarage, where the vicarage garden was once known for a great diversity of flowers, berry bushes, useful plants and trees.

The area around the church makes the visit larger than the church building itself. At Evenesvika and Evenestangen there is a beach, fishing spot, Steinkirka and a marked cultural trail with war memorials. In this way, the church is close to both the fjord landscape, local history and the traces of the people who have shaped the place

Transport

Egen transport

Additional information

The church is an active church in the Church of Norway. Check local church activities and any admission before visiting. Evenes municipality refers to the Churches in Evenes and the municipality's information channels for the activities.
The church office is located at Evenes town hall in Bogen, with opening hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 14:00.
Evenes church site is a culturally and historically important area. Show consideration in the cemetery and around protected or preservation-worthy cultural monuments.

Map & Directions

77 km

Take off from the E10 at the Nautå junction close to Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes, follow the signs to Evenes Church, Stone Church and war memorials. Evenesvika is located just after you have passed the church, and the church stands west of Evenesvika.