The Church of the Holy Cross

Rauma, Finland

The church of the former Franciscan monastery was built probably between 1515 and 1520. It is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Rauma. The church stands by the small stream of Raumanjoki (Rauma river).

The exact age of the Church of the Holy Cross is unknown, but it was built to serve as the monastery church of the Rauma Franciscan Friary. The monastery had been established in the early 15th century and a wooden church was built on this location around the year 1420.

The Church of the Holy Cross served the monastery until 1538, when it was abandoned for a hundred years as the Franciscan friary was disbanded in the Swedish Reformation. The church was re-established as a Lutheran church in 1640, when the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity was destroyed by fire.

The choir of the two-aisle grey granite church features medieval murals and frescoes. The white steeple of the church was built in 1816 and has served as a landmark for seafarers.

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Address

Luostarinkatu 1, Rauma, Finland
See all sites in Rauma

Details

Founded: 1515-1520
Category: Religious sites in Finland
Historical period: Middle Ages (Finland)

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Niko (5 months ago)
Nice little church and nice staff. He even gave us a little tour.
TH3 TR/\V1R (13 months ago)
Catholic church just a few steps north of Rauma old town. Nice interior.
Enzo philippe (18 months ago)
superb church in old Rauma, authentic, I loved it.
Mark Emerson Dela Cruz (19 months ago)
Magnificent and serene spiritual house situated at Old Rauma.
DarkShadow (6 years ago)
Beautiful old stone church.
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