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Founded: 1120Category: Religious sites in Germany
Historical period: Salian Dynasty (Germany)
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The Benedictine abbey was established in Auhausen probably in the early 12th century. The church was built between 1120-1230 and enlarged in the 16th century. During the Peasants' War in 1525 the church and abbey were looted and damaged. Since 1531 it has been a Protestant church.
Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.
German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.
After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.