Must See Norway - Urnes Stave Church

'Someone came here, shouldering a man's load of visions, spread them out over the walls and pillars, gaping beasts angels' wings, dragons out under the knife the hand the brush, tendrils of ochre, red, grey, white, a sinuous short way from paradise to damnation'. So said Norwegian poet Paal-Helge Hauge of Urnes Unesco World Heritage-listed stave church.

Probably built between 1130 and 1150, this lovely structure overlooking Lusterfjord is one of the oldest stave churches in Norway, although its unique and elaborate wooden ornamentation has likely been altered through the ages. Even so, Urnes stave church is a national treasure and a highlight of any journey into the Western Fjords.

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• religious/spiritual, Unesco World Heritage