Tampere Cathedral, Tampere, Finland

The national romantic cathedral was designed by Lars Sonck and built between 1902 and 1907. In the beginning of the 20th century Russification was a governmental policy of the Russian Empire aimed at limiting the special status of the Grand Duchy of Finland and possibly the termination of its autonomy. This caused the rise of the national romanticism in Finland and Tampere Cathedral was one of the most remarkable examples of the new national spirit.

The cathedral is famous for its frescoes, painted by renowned symbolist Hugo Simberg. The paintings aroused considerable critique in their time, featuring versions of Simberg's The Wounded Angel and The Garden of Death. Of particular controversy was Simberg's painting of a winged serpent on a red background in the highest point of the ceiling, which his contemporaries interpreted as a symbol of sin and corruption.

User Reviews

Jarmo Tarvainen (2 years ago)
My child hood chruch. Hugo Simberg did draw art on churc

Beatriz Piacesi (2 years ago)
The atmosphere is very nice ?? took some pictures for my portfolio

Riikka (2 years ago)
A beautiful church with wonderful wall paintings including Hugo Simberg's Wounded Angel. A good place to sit down in silence and take a moment.

Marie Aissa Gamiao (2 years ago)
I was amazed. The most beautiful church I've been. Must visit when you're in Tampere.

Marco Giustiniani (2 years ago)
A bit controversial, but, you are not indifferent to the themes and the beauty of the cathedral, something to absolutely see. Both inside and outside is outstanding.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

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Tampere Cathedral

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