Octagonal churches in Norway

Main article: Churches in Norway
Hospitalskirken in Trondheim - the oldest octagonal church in Norway.
Credit: Mahlum
Wilhelm von Hanno: Trinity Church with its octagonal dome

An octagonal church has an octagonal (eight-sided polygon) architectural plan. The exterior and the interior (the nave) may be shaped as eight-sided polygon with approximately equal sides or only the nave is eight-sided supplemented by choir and porch (or narthex) attached to the octagon. This architectural plan is found in some 70 churches in Norway. Among these Hospitalskirken in Trondheim is the oldest.[1] This type of church plan spread from the Diocese of Nidaros to other parts of Norway. Virtually all octagonal churches in Norway are constructed as log buildings mostly covered by clapboards.[2] Some of the largest churches in Norway are octagonal and the list includes important cultural heritage monuments such as Trinity Church (Oslo), Sør-Fron Church, and Røros Church.[3][4]

This is the bright and solemn church room of classicism, whether it is such a large building [as Røros Church] or the modest rural log churches, the interior is covered and interconnected by cheerful colors of the Roccoco in marbling and ceiling. This was our last independent contribution to ecclesiastical architecture.

— Leif Østby, Norges Kunsthistorie[4]
  1. ^ Ekroll, Øystein (2012). Sunnmørskyrkjene - historie, kunst og arkitektur (in Norwegian). Larsnes, Norge: Bla. ISBN 9788293273004.
  2. ^ Christie, Håkon (1991). "Kirkebygging i Norge i 1600- og 1700-årene". Årbok for Fortidsminneforeningen (in Norwegian). 145: 177–194.
  3. ^ "Vil ikke frede Røros kirke" (in Norwegian). NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation). 1 January 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b Østby, Leif (1962). Norges kunsthistorie (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Gyldendal. ISBN 9788205091832.