Stavanger Cathedral

Stavanger Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

Stavanger Cathedral stands in the centre of Stavanger, Norway, beside the Breiavatnet lake and a short walk from the harbour, and it is the oldest cathedral in Norway still in its original form. The cathedral has been closed for a long restoration in recent years, reopening in stages, so check the current situation before visiting.

Stavanger is the gateway to the Lysefjord, and most visitors come for the Preikestolen, Pulpit Rock, hike and the fjord cruises, combining them with a walk through Old Stavanger, Gamle Stavanger, with its white wooden houses, the Norwegian Petroleum Museum and the harbour. Cruise ships call at Stavanger in summer. The cathedral is active, with services and concerts, and it is used for important civic events. Walking tours of Stavanger start near the cathedral. Fjord cruise tickets can be bought at the harbour kiosks, a few minutes' walk from the cathedral.

Visiting Stavanger Cathedral: what to see

The cathedral was built around 1100 to 1150 in the Anglo-Norman Romanesque style, probably by the English bishop Reinald of Winchester, and it was dedicated to Saint Swithun, an English saint from Winchester. After a fire in 1272, the choir was rebuilt in the Gothic style, with a decorated east front and two towers. Inside, the Romanesque nave has massive round pillars, decorated capitals and a wooden roof, while the Gothic choir is taller and lighter. The cathedral holds a baroque pulpit, carved in 1658 by Andrew Lawrenceson Smith, a Scottish craftsman, with many figures, and memorial tablets and epitaphs. The baptismal font is from the Middle Ages. The stained glass windows were added in the twentieth century.

The cathedral's restoration has included cleaning and repairing the stonework and improving the interior. The cathedral's east front has two small towers and a Gothic window. The choir's vaulted ceiling is decorated with carved bosses. The pulpit's carvings show scenes from the Bible, from the creation to the last judgement. Epitaphs in the nave commemorate Stavanger families of the seventeenth century. The cathedral's organ is used for concerts. The south porch has Romanesque carvings. The cathedral's windows include modern stained glass with bright colours. The graveyard around the cathedral has old trees and benches. The lake in front of the cathedral reflects the church. The bishop's residence, Kongsgård, stands beside the cathedral and is now a school.

Stavanger Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral's opening depends on the restoration schedule, and it is usually open daily when not closed for works. Stavanger has a mild, rainy climate, and summer is the best season for fjord trips and the Preikestolen hike. The Gladmat food festival in July brings food stalls to the harbour. Christmas brings concerts and a market. Allow about half an hour for the cathedral, and walk through Old Stavanger and down to the harbour for a fjord cruise. The Norwegian Petroleum Museum, on the harbour, explains the history of Norway's oil industry in interactive exhibits.