Cathedral of The Northern Lights

There’s wide variety of opinions on how this church looks. Regardless of which side of the debate you’re on, the church has brought people together and expanded awareness about Alta.

The Cathedral of the Northern Lights, also known as Nordlyskatedralen, is located in the center of Alta, Norway, and serves as the main church for the Alta parish and the seat of the Alta deanery in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland. It was consecrated on 10 February 2013 by Bishop Per Oskar Kjølaas, with Crown Princess Mette Marit attending the ceremony.

The cathedral was designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects in collaboration with LINK arkitektur and architect Kolbjørn Jenssen. Its circular, spiral-shaped design is inspired by the Northern Lights, with undulating waves and a clock tower that evoke the natural phenomenon. The exterior features titanium cladding, while the interior uses oak for floors, chairs, and moldings, enhanced with LED lighting to create a warm and visually striking atmosphere.Read more