The stone church at Evenestangen
Highlights
- Experience a spectacular granite monument from Lødingen
- See the sculpture as a silhouette from a car, boat or plane
- Explore a work based on church and temple architecture
- Learn about World War II war memorials at Evenestangen
- Head out into an outdoor area with benches, fishing spots and proximity to the beach
Description
The stone church stands at the far end of Evenestangen by the Ofotfjord, east of the beach. The 5.5 meter high granite sculpture was made by the Danish artist Bjørn Nørgaard and was opened in 1995 as Evenes municipality's contribution to Artscape Nordland.
The work has its formal starting point in church and temple architecture. The shape is reminiscent of Norwegian stave churches from the early Middle Ages, but also refers to sacred architecture from other cultures. Instead of wood, the artist has used granite from Lødingen, and the sculpture is oriented east-west in the traditional way in a church context.
The stone church is not a church, but a picture of a church or a temple. You can enter the room the sculpture forms, surrounded by stone walls with drawings on the inside. The artist himself has explained that the figures on the south wall live in the house, while the figures on the north wall are homeless, troubled souls. In this way, the work makes room for a quiet moment and its own stories.
Evenestangen also contains a number of cultural monuments from World War II, linked to the coastal battery that the Germans built here. An overview of the war memorials can be found on the information board at the parking lot, and the memorials are numbered and signposted in the terrain uphill along Evenestangen. Here, art, local history and outdoor life meet in an open fjord landscape close to the E10.
More information
- The stone church is part of Artscape Nordland.
- The sculpture was made by Bjørn Nørgaard and opened in 1995.
- The work is 5.5 meters high and built of granite from Lødingen.
- Evenestangen has war memorabilia from World War II, linked to the German coastal battery that was built here.
- An overview of the war memorials can be found on the information board by the parking lot.
- The war memorials are numbered and signposted in the terrain up along Evenestangen.
- There are information signs on site.
- Benches are placed in several places in the outdoor area.
- Evenestangen is a favorite fishing spot.
- The beach is easily accessible close to the road in the bay just before Evenestangen.
- The stone church is nice to visit all year round.
- The area is well suited for children and dogs.
- The path down Evenestangen goes over rocks and is not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Tread carefully on the rocks, especially when they are slippery.
- Be aware of loose rocks in the terrain.
- To reach the war memorials in the upper part of Evenestangen, you have to cross a busy road.