A number of the stave churches are in use as ordinary congregational churches. It is wonderful that many people can enjoy the stave churches all year round, and in this way become familiar with this aspect of the Norwegian building heritage.

This is a challenge when it comes to taking care of the painted décor, which may become exposed to the risk of damage when the buildings are warmed up, or when it comes to the desire for structural change.

Several of the stave churches are in a poor structural condition, with serious damage to their basic construction, such as settling foundations or rotting cross-ties or staves. Natural decay and a lack of maintenance are among the reasons for stave churches declining.

Experience and specialist expertise are required to restore and maintain them. Traditional handicraft and material knowledge needs to be obtained, for example. Many of the church owners do not have the means to restore the churches without considerable state contributions.

The stave churches are interesting cultural remains that arouse both pleasure and wonder, and they attract a large number of tourists. Urnes Stave Church, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, receives approximately ten thousand visitors per annum.

This is a happy state of affairs, but at the same time it presents a challenge. On the one hand, tourist visits on a large scale cause wear and tear to both the buildings and the décor. On the other hand, the visitors’ presence leads to considerable activity around the churches, which provides a source of income for the local community. The challenge, then, is to provide a form of tourism that offers a good experience for visitors and positive benefits from their presence for the local community, at the same time ensuring that the stave churches are not destroyed by too much wear and tear.