Åsane gamle kirke is a historic stone church in the Åsane district of Bergen, Norway. Originally built in 1795, it became part of Norwegian black metal history when it was destroyed in an arson attack on Christmas Eve 1992 during the early wave of church burnings linked to the scene. The church was later rebuilt, incorporating surviving parts of the original structure, and reopened in 1995.

Its place in black metal history is tied to Varg Vikernes of Burzum and Jørn Inge Tunsberg, later of Hades Almighty, which was known simply as Hades between 1992 and 1998. Vikernes was later sentenced to 21 years in prison for the murder of Øystein Aarseth, known as Euronymous, and for several church burnings, including the destruction of Åsane gamle kirke. Tunsberg was sentenced to two years in prison for his part in the church burning. Because of this, Åsane gamle kirke remains one of the most important physical sites connected to the early Norwegian black metal scene and the church burnings that became one of its most notorious chapters.

ADDRESS:
Sauråsbakken 20, 5131 Bergen, Norway

Back to Bergen.