Otepää Church, Otepää, Estonia

The Otepää Maarja Lutheran Church was built in 1890 and represents the Gothic revival style. On 4th June 1884 the blue-black-white flag of the Estonian Students’ Society was consecrated in the church, which later on became the flag of the nation and in 1992 the official national flag of Estonia. The bas-reliefs of the flag, the author of which is sculptor Voldemar Mellik, were opened on the church wall in 1934 (on the 50th anniversary of the national flag). The bas-reliefs were destroyed in 1950 and restored by sculptor Mati Variku and opened again on 15th July 1989.

Reference: Maaturism.ee

User Reviews

julia ahonen (3 years ago)
A very beautiful church with great wooden décor inside. The warm light of the stained glass windows creates an unforgettable atmosphere.

Siim R (3 years ago)
Awesome

Oskar Susi (3 years ago)
The predecessor of the church is considered to be the Church of Michael, which was located in the same place in 1638. The previous history of the church, which has repeatedly suffered in wars and then been restored, is unknown. The older part of the current church building was completed in 1860. In 1889-1890 a long building was built.

Aive Jaani (4 years ago)
Beautiful church with stained glass windows. Historic place

Edvin Tamm (5 years ago)
Amen

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Staffan O Andersson

Historic Site of the week

Gamla Uppsala Church

The stone church of Gamla Uppsala, built over the pagan temple, dates from the early 12th century. Due to fire and renovations, the present church is only a remnant of the original cathedral.

Before the arrival of Christianity in Sweden, Gamla Uppsala was the seat of Swedish kings and a ceremonial site known all over northern Europe. The settlement was home to royal palaces, a royal burial ground, and a great pagan temple. The Uppsala temple, which was described in detail by Adam of Bremen in the 1070s, housed wooden statues of the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Freyr. A golden chain hung across its gables and the inside was richly decorated with gold. The temple had priests, who sacrificed to the gods according to the needs of the people.

The first Christian cathedral was probably built in the 11th century, but finished in the 12th century. The stone building may have been preceded by a wooden church and probably by the large pagan temple.

Otepää Church

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Gamla Uppsala Church