Beginning in the 11 century wooden stave churches were made in Norway. By the 13 century there were more than a thousand churches. In the middle of the 14 century the plague came to Norway and much of the country was left unpopulated.   Several of the churches were moved and then later re-erected and preserved at new locations. The Gol church was moved and put back together at Bygdoy at the National Folk Museum. Parts of others churches are also stored there as well.

     There are replicas of the Borgund church at Rapid City, South Dakota and at Washington Island, Wisconsin.

     The churches were usually set upon high, wide, open areas which are in a wide, which was given the name of "the special imprint of God the creator."  They are often on a peninsula, overlooking a fjord, or at the bend in a river.  The method they used to build the churches was to have the ground leveled-out and the first wooden beams were laid out in a rectangular pattern atop a stone foundation (like a log cabin).  Next, the staves (or vertical posts) were put into place.  Cross-braces were then layed down between the posts.  Bent wooden arches were also added to most of the churches.  This held the church up better and added some decoration. Finally, carvings, paintings, and other decoration were added to the interior and exterior of the churches. 

     Stave churches are made entirely of wood except for the ironwork detailing like door locks or hinges.  The wood used in the church construction was specially cut and dried to prevent it from cracking.  The pieces of wood were put together by being pegged and wedged so each joint can move in and out with the temperature and humidity.

     Of the churches that remain, 3 churches, and carvings, paintings, and tapestries from others have appeared on Norwegian stamps.