Inndyr and its medieval Romanesque church at 37º N, in Gildeskål

On the Arctic coast of Norway sits a Romanesque church from the 12th century. Well, I had to show this remarkable rarity. 

Inndyr, in the coastal region of Gildeskål, is one of those many picturesque marine villages in Norway; founded and grewn off fishing, a little south of the Lofoten archipelago. 

The recently restored 'Tormodbrygga', a typical fishing pier in the small port of Inndyr.

Tormodbrygga pier, built on the Lofoten Islands in 1900, was purchased and transported by a merchant from Inndyr, where it served as a warehouse and store. It was then managed by his son Tormod, who also lived there, until the store closed in 1952. Now it will be a place for nautical clubs and leisure activities.

But what makes Gildeskål worth highlighting is the Romanesque church on the outskirts of Inndyr, at 67º 3' N, 14º 2' E, well above the Arctic Circle, and much further north than the most famous Trondheim's Nidaros Cathedral. 

The old church of St. Thomas of Canterbury

Around 1130, a church began to be built about 2 km north of Inndyr, which in 1170 was dedicated to St. Thomas av Canterbury (Thomas Beckett), who died on that year. After several fires, in 1710 the interior was partially burned, and the restoration was made in the baroque style of the 18th century.

Strangely enough, this church was built from marble stone found on a nearby beach. It is the only marble stone church at these latitudes. The slabs and ashlar stones are not polished, they are roughly hewn.

Stonemasons among the best in medieval Europe certainly came to Gildeskål; and later the church was decorated with one of the richest baroque interiors in the country. 

All Scandinavian churches (but many French ones too) have their votive boat; this is from 1782, a model of the danish/norsk frigate Joshua which sank in 1566 during a storm at Visby. 

 

Now it's time for a coffee pause. Espresso? maybe in the Heimsjyen. 

Quite nice for such a tiny village.

In Gildeskål there is another wonder - the island of Fugløya and the village of Sørfugløy.   

Hugely isolated due to its distance from the mainland coast, it is an idyllic place that has been attracting rich people who escape the urban hustle and bustle and want peace, security or seclusion. Paradise has a branch here.

A wonderful sand beach in arctic cold waters.

 

Midnattsol on Fugløya