The Church of the Holy Cross, Hattula, Finland

Hattula Church is one of the oldest brick buildings in Finland. It was built in the 15th century and dedicated to the Holy Cross. Wall paintings are from the 16th century. The porch in front of the hall was built in the 16th century of grey stone and bell tower in 1813.

Unique for having been built almost entirely of brick rather than stone, the church was a popular pilgrimage destination during the Middle Ages. A grey stone perimeter wall was added in the 16th century. The church contains paintings from the years 1510 through 1922, as well as 40 wooden sculptures dating to the first half of the 14th century. Precious-metal crowns which had formerly belonged to the church were confiscated during the Reformation. The church pulpit, dating to 1550, is the oldest surviving pulpit in Finland. A second pulpit was built in the 17th century.

The Hattula church is known for its lime paint frescoes done in late Gothic style, likely completed by the same group of artists who later painted the St. Lars church in Lohja.

User Reviews

Jukka Kauppinen (3 years ago)
A wonderful insightful experience..very helpful and knowledgeable folks taking care of us interested visitors.. (even with my crutches and bum knee.)Beautiful and intresting art-stories of faith from the 15th Century on.. Will visit and take friends,especially foreign friends to experience this great church.

Robin Bobin (3 years ago)
The building looks like a typical church, but still impressive especially after Häme fortress.

heikki paulaharju (4 years ago)
Awesome mediaeval church. Outside it looks like normal old church, but you will be amazed when seeing the insides. Outside a shop to buy local hand crafted items.

Matteo Cherchi (4 years ago)
Wonderful example of medieval Finnish Church with colourful "a secco" paintings and beautiful carved sculptures. One of the only three medieval building made of bricks in Finland, together with Turku's cathedral and Hämeenlinna's Castle.

esa aho (6 years ago)
Extraordinary old church. With almost untouched original wall paintings.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

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.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

The Church of the Holy Cross

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