Stave churches are considered to be among the most important examples of wooden Medieval architecture in Europe. In the Middle Ages, there were probably more than 1,000 stave churches in Norway. Today, only 28 remain, including Urnes stave church, which is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Most stave churches are in Norway, but they can also be found in Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. Stave churches are quite popular phenomenon and several have been built or rebuilt around the world. The Norwegian stave churches are the oldest preserved wooden churches in Christianity. Most of the stave churches were actually quite plain, while some feature an elaborate design and complex carvings.