Røst Church, a modest white wooden building on Røstlandet, contains a medieval triptych that has outlasted every storm, every rebuilding, and five centuries of Arctic weather. The altarpiece dates to 1520 and was a gift from Dutch Princess Elizabeth, who attributed her survival in a North Sea storm to divine intervention. The church itself is small — as you would expect for a congregation that has rarely exceeded a few hundred souls — but the altarpiece gives it a significance entirely out of proportion to its size.
The church is the heart of community life on the island. Services are held regularly throughout the year, and the church yard contains graves going back several centuries. If the church is locked when you visit, ask at the local tourist information or at the ferry terminal — someone will usually be able to open it for you.