Røldal Pilgrimage Centre

Location: Norway
Client: Røldal Sokneråd
Year: 2012

Roldal Church and the new Pilgrims Visitor Centre are united by a new elliptical public space which evokes the historic gathering spaces adjacent to churches and their graveyards known as ‘Church Hills’. The new Church Hill signifies the arrival point for pilgrims. It also provides public space for the local community and other visitors to Roldal.

The Church Hill is accessed directly from Church Road and orientated to give shelter from the harsh east winds. The perimeter of the Church Hill is defined by a stone wall which is interrupted by a new entrance portal aligned with the existing graveyard entrance leading to Roldal Church. Immediately opposite, across the Church Hill, the entrance pavilion to the Pilgrims Visitor Centre is located to look towards and terminate the axis of the entrance path and Church. The Chapel of Rest and Funeral Services are entered separately via the smaller pavilion adjacent to the church entrance portal.