Holdhus Church

Holdhus Church
Holdhus kyrkje
View of the church
Holdhus Church Location in Hordaland county Show map of Hordaland Holdhus Church Location in Hordaland county Show map of Norway
60°14′30″N 5°49′57″E / 60.2417°N 5.8325°E / 60.2417; 5.8325Coordinates: 60°14′30″N 5°49′57″E / 60.2417°N 5.8325°E / 60.2417; 5.8325
Location	Fusa, Hordaland
Country	Norway
Denomination	Church of Norway
Churchmanship	Evangelical Lutheran
History
Former name(s)	Hålandsdalen kyrkje
Founded	Before 1306
Architecture
Status	Museum
Functional status	Active
Completed	1725
Closed	1890
Specifications
Capacity	90
Materials	Wood
Administration
Parish	Fusa
Deanery	Hardanger og Voss prosti
Diocese	Diocese of Bjørgvin

Holdhus Church (Norwegian: Holdhus kyrkje; historically called Hålandsdal kyrkje) is a former parish church in Fusa municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is located in the village of Holdhus. The church is part of the Fusa parish in the Hardanger og Voss deanery in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. The church is notable for its interior decorations. The walls are covered in Rosemaling, a type of Norwegian folk-art.

The church (called Hålandsdal kyrkje) was founded sometime before 1306 and it has been used for several centuries, serving the Hålandsdal valley. The first building was a stave church. In 1726, the old church was torn down and replaced with a new timber-framed church which seated 90 people. In 1890 the new Hålandsdal Church was completed a short distance to the southeast. When the new church was built, this church was no longer regularly-used as a parish church, and shortly thereafter, it was purchased by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. Since then it has been a museum called Holdhus kyrkje and it is still used by the parish for special occasions.

Winter view of the church

Summer view of the church

Interior of the church

View of the pulpit

View of the rosemaling on the interior walls