Fantoft Stavkirke (Fantoft Stave Church), Bergen (must see)

Fantoft Stave Church, located in the Fana borough of Bergen, stands as a reconstructed monument of Norway's medieval architectural heritage. Originally erected around 1150 in Fortun, a village near the eastern end of Sognefjord, the church was an emblematic stave church of the era. In 1879, it was replaced by the new Fortun Church, leading to its potential demolition along with many other stave churches across Norway during that period.

The church's salvation came from Consul Fredrik Georg Gade, who purchased and relocated it to Fana near Bergen in 1883, thereby preserving this significant piece of Norwegian cultural history. A notable feature on the church grounds is a stone cross from Tjora in Sola, further accentuating its historical and cultural importance.

However, the church's history took a dark turn on June 6, 1992, when it was destroyed by arson. This act of vandalism marked the beginning of a series of church burnings attributed to the early Norwegian black metal scene. Initially, it was speculated that the fire could have been due to lightning or electrical failure. However, by 1994, Varg Vikernes, a prominent figure in the black metal community, was found guilty of several other church burnings, though he was not convicted for the Fantoft Stave Church fire due to a controversial jury decision.

Promptly after the arson, efforts were made to reconstruct the church, culminating in a painstaking six-year restoration process. Since its reopening in 1997, the church has been encircled by a security fence to protect this historical site from further harm. Today, Fantoft Stave Church not only serves as a place of cultural and historical significance but also as a symbol of resilience in the face of cultural vandalism.