Borgund Stave Church, the former parish church of the Church of Norway in Lærdal Municipality, is a magnificent example of a triple-nave stave church of the Sogn-type. Built between 1180 and 1250 A.D., its walls are formed by vertical wooden boards or 'staves', and four corner posts that interlock with one another to form a sturdy wall. It stands out for its exterior timber surfaces darkened by protective tar layers and other intriguing features such as the dragon head carvings adorning the gables, protective portals and narrow windows. Inside the church, visitors can marvel at the free-standing columns, grotesque masks and fascinating runic inscriptions. This impressive structure also contains Norway's sole surviving, stave-built bell tower!