What to do and see in Vinje Municipality, Eastern Norway: The Best Churches & Cathedrals

Mosstrond Church on the island of Hovden, was built in 1923 after the old church was destroyed by fire in a thunderstorm on Midsummer's Day in 1919. The new church was decorated by Sveinung Svalastoga, and has become a very special place of worship. Open on agreement. Guided tours to the church and the island of Hovden in the summer season, see below: Sightseeing tour to the Hovden Island: On Thursdays in the summer, cruises with a local guide operate from Skinnarbu to the island of Hovden, with its unique church at Mosstrond, beautifully decorated by the artist Sveinung Svalastoga from Rauland. This church has a unique and beautiful funeral custom: local people help to bury the coffin. Havard Giboen, the renowned Hardanger fiddle player, is buried here. The guide will tell about the history and present story of the rural comunity of Mosstrond.

Nesland Church, beside the road from amot to Dalen, is a wooden church built in 1847. It contains many artefacts from the old stave church that stood on the same site, including a crucifix, a font, portals and a pillory. The church was restored in 1927 and decorated by the rose painter oystein Vesaas. The altarpiece was painted by Dagfin Werenskiold. Open on agreement.

Karten Mountain Church was completed in 1982 after several years of hard work by local people and scouts. The 1st Edland YMCA owns the church and accommodation. The new building was constructed around the old meeting house in Grungedal, which was used from 1934 until it was given to the scouts as it stood by the local mission society in 1974. The architect Gunnar Sandvik designed the new building and annex.

Grunge Church is a wooden church dating from 1850. Like Nesland church, it was based on a design by the architect H.D.F Lindstow, adapted by the parish priest Anton Elias Smitt. The church was built by Saave Brufloti from Mo and decorated by the rose painter anund Lunden. Harald Kihle painted the altarpiece. Open on agreement.

oyfjell Church is a small, square church, seating only 60 people, on the site of an older stave church. It is not known who built the church, which was consecrated in autumn 1833, but Olav Sveinungsson Berge was one of the carpenters. It is thought that the pulpit was made by a tinker who went by the name of Per Snikkar (Peter the Carpenter). Open on agreement.