Cultural Heritage

Vingrom church, Røyne church location and the Hov farms

Wooden church from 1908.

Vingrom church is a parish wooden church built in 1908. The architects were: Wollebæk/Jürgensen.

Along Vingrom beach there is documented settlement which dates back to the Merovingian Age 600 years AD, with ancient archaeological finds, house sites, discoveries of gold "gubber" and a church.The most sensational discovery was made on the farm Hov and consists of 30 relief / characters of pure gold. Probably these gold "gubber" were used as offerings during religious ceremonies. The findings on Hov testify that it has been a religious cult center.

The church was often built near the ancient Hovet or the village center. Vingrom's first church was built on the farm Røine in the early Middle Ages, and is mentioned in a diploma from 1407-08. The farm is first mentioned in 1367. The only finds from the old church is a baptismal font which is now kept in Maihaugen. South of Røyne there are registered 36 burial mounds. The new Vingrom church was built in 1908 has an altar painting by the artist Lars Jorde.

Up on the hillside to the left of the pilgrims way from Vingrom Church is the farm Hov, that was a cult place in the pre-Christian era and later meeting place for hearings. There have been registered ancient archaeological finds in the area. The farm is mentioned in a diploma from 1396.

About the area - Lågendelta and Jørstadmovollen: Lågendelta, created after the last ice age, is protected as a nature reserve and bird sanctuaries area. The Lågendelta is a wetland of national interest as a resting place for migratory birds, and approx. 200 species are recorded. The site also has a special swamp vegetation and is an important spawning area for various fish-species.

Photo: Bjoertvedt/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain.