The Church Hill, Ruokolahti, Finland

The church hill of Ruokolahti is situated in a beautiful site just near the Lake Saimaa. The wooden church was completed in 1854. The bell tower is perhaps the most well known building in Ruokolahti and it is also one of the oldest ones. This shingle-roofed bell tower was built by a local carpenter, Tuomas Suikkanen, who completed it in 1752.

Opposite to the bell tower is the Ruokolahti Parish Museum. It was founded in 1955 in a public granary built in 1861. There are about 2000 objects in the three-story building.

A guided tour in the church hill takes about an hour. A guide can be engaged through the Ruokolahti Tourist Office.

Reference: Ruokolahti Municipality

Address

Ukonsalmentie, Ruokolahti, Finland

See all sites in Ruokolahti

Details

Founded: 1752-1861
Category: Religious sites in Finland
Historical period: The Age of Enlightenment (Finland)

More Information

www2.ruokolahti.fi

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

The Church of the Three Crosses (5,5 km)
Border Museum (5,7 km)

Valtionhotelli (13,2 km)

User Reviews

Jouko Monto (3 years ago)
Nice church, the interior is wonderful to see

Tuula Kiljunen (3 years ago)
Been important in almost all of life's biggest events.

Marja Kaarnaoja (4 years ago)
Kaunis syntymäpitäjäni kirkko, jossa äitivainaa siunattiin ja saatettiin isän viereen kirkkomaahan.

Sani R (4 years ago)
Kaunis ja hyväkuntoinen vanha kirkko

Henri Näivä (4 years ago)
Great church in a great location

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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Church of St Donatus

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 Hill