Vågan Church (Lofoten Cathedral)

The huge yellow wooden cross-shaped church above Kabelvåg, locally known as Lofotkatedralen — the Lofoten Cathedral — was consecrated in 1898 to serve the seasonal flood of fishermen during the spring cod season. It is the largest wooden church in northern Norway and one of the most photographed buildings in Lofoten.

The interior is plain but bright. The cemetery around the church has the gravestones of generations of Lofoten fishermen, many lost at sea — a useful reminder of how dangerous the spring fishery was before motorised boats.

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A story
Vågan Church is the largest wooden building north of Trondheim and was given the courtesy title 'Lofoten Cathedral' for its size — it holds 1,200 worshippers, the biggest wooden church congregation in northern Norway. The yellow paint was chosen in the 19th century because it was the cheapest mineral pigment that lasted in coastal weather.

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