In a nutshell

Slip into some comfortable shoes for your walk in Vik, an ancient village built by the vikings on the longest fjord in Norway. Observe the details of the typical colorful houses as you wander through the center of the village, then follow the path through the fields to Hopperstad church: a true celebrity of the architectural world that looks like a ship, is home to dragons and speaks the language of ancient times.

Main stops

Village of Vik
Hopperstad church (external visit)
Sognefjord

The programme

At the bottom of Sognefjord is Vik, a small village whose name means “bay”. Here begins your stroll among the colorful houses and landscapes that couldn't be more Nordic if they tried.
The green of the fields and mountains is the color that accompanies you as you make your way to the medieval church of Hopperstad, a local and national icon.
The reason for this? Dating back to 1130 AD, it is entirely built from pine wood staves which were cut in the same way as those used on viking ships, in the typical architectural style of the ancient “stavkirke” churches. There are only 28 other examples in the whole of Norway!
But there's more. As well as being the oldest church in the country, it is also home to a host of sacred and pagan symbols: dragons and serpents, designed to drive out demons on the one hand, and the Virgin Mary on the other!
A truly unique sight, just like the views over the Sognefjord, also known as the 'king of the fjords', which tops off your visit to Vik.

Good to know

Wear suitable clothing for the places of worship you will be visiting.