Paltaniemi Church

Kajaani, Finland

First church in Paltaniemi was built in 1599, but it was destroyed by the very unusual earthquake in 1626. The next one was completed in 1665, but again it was destroyed by the Russian forces during the Greath Wrath in 1716. The current wooden church was built in 1726. Probably the oldest artifact inside the Paltainiemi church is the altarpiece from the year 1727. Famous paintings on the ceiling and walls was made by Emanuel Granberg in 1778-1781. The large painting on the rear wall, the “Final Judgement”, was once considered so shocking that the lower portion of the painting was removed – apparently even with an axe in places.

Outside the church are memorials to the Kalevala and the years of famine. The church is open to visitors daily throughout the summer.

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1726
Category: Religious sites in Finland
Historical period: The Age of Enlightenment (Finland)

More Information

www.oulujarvi.fi

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Jari Laitala (5 years ago)
A unique place!
Samu Puuronen (5 years ago)
Nice little church.
Jean Yves Le Ravallec (6 years ago)
Beautiful all-wood church including the roof The interior is decorated with religious scenes painted on the wooden ceiling. Worth the detour.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Château de Niort

Château de Niort is a medieval castle in the French town of Niort. It consists of two square towers, linked by a 15th-century building and dominates the Sèvre Niortaise valley.

The two donjons are the only remaining part of the castle. The castle was started by Henry II Plantagenet in the 12th century and completed by Richard the Lionheart. It was defended by a rectangular curtain wall and was damaged during the Wars of Religion. In the 18th century, the castle served as a prison.

The present keeps were the central point of a massive fortress. The southern keep is 28m tall, reinforced with turrets. The northern tower is slightly shorter at 23m. Both are flanked with circular turrets at the corners as well as semicircular buttresses. Each of the towers has a spiral staircase serving the upper floors. The Romanesque architecture is of a high quality with the dressed stones closely jointed.