Explore Petäjävesi Old Church, Finland’s UNESCO-listed treasure, famous for its unique wooden architecture and rich history.
*We use ads so we can pay for our travels and continue to bring you free travel advice. We also use affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. See our Privacy Policy for more information.
On our trips to Finland, we’ve developed a bit of a tradition; stopping at old churches along the way. It all started with my American husband, who studied history and lights up anytime there is a whiff of the past involved. He is also fascinated by the Lutheranism, so stepping into these centuries-old sanctuaries became a must.
Over time, I came to appreciate just how incredible Finland’s old churches really are. Each one carries a deep history and has its own unique character. Many are also architecturally significant, real gems scattered across the countryside.
We first visited Petäjävesi Old Church years ago and it remains one of the most memorable churches we have ever seen in Finland. It is breathtakingly beautiful and there is something magical about the atmosphere inside those weathered log walls. The wooden floorboards creak softly under you feet when you walk there, and you can almost feel the centuries whispering around you.
It’s no wonder this masterpiece has earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Walking through its doors feels stepping straight back in time.
The history of the Old Church of Petäjävesi
The Petäjävesi Old Church was built between 1763 and 1765 under the direction of master builder Jaakko Klementinpoika Leppänen. At the time, Petäjävesi was part of the parish of Jämsä, but the journey to the main church was far too long for the local worshippers. This new wooden church was meant to serve the Petäjävesi chapel community.
When costruction began, Finland was still under Swedish rule, meaning that the official permission to build had to come from the Swedish Crown. In true Finnish fashion, the locals didn’t wait. The church was completed before the authorization even made it from Sweden to Central Finland.
Despite of being finished in 1765, the church wasn’t consecrated until 1778.
In 1821, a bell tower was added, built by none other than the grandson of the original master builder, Erkki Jaakonpoika Leppänen. At the same time, a covered passageway was constructed to connect the tower to the main church building.
The Old Church was taken out of regular ise in 1879, when a new church was completed across the bay in Kirkkolahti. For decades, it sat neglected and weathering away, with only its bell tower and surrounding cemetery remaining in use.
Its fate might have been sealed if not Polish-Austrian art historian Josef Strzygowski, who in the 1920s wrote an article on the historical and architectural value of wooden churches. In it, he mentioned both the churches of Keuruu and Petäjävesi. This international attention inspired locals to start preserving their historic treasure.
Since the 1950s, the Finnish Heritage Agency has overseen restorations, and even the church yard has been improved.
In 1994, the Petäjävesi Old Church was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as an exceptional example of Nordic wooden church architecture and log construction traditions maintained by local farmers.
Visiting Petäjävesi Old Church
We have often paired our visit to Petäjävesi Old Church with trips to see friends in Jyväskylä since. It is only 30 kilometres away, making it an easy day trip or a perfect quick stop if you are passing through Petäjävesi on your way somewhere else.
Petäjävesi itself is a small municipality in Central Finland, surrounded by rolling countryside and beautiful lakes. In fact, there are 99 lakes within its borders, yet the town is home to just over 3,500 residents.
On one of our visits, we happened to have the entire church to ourselves. The atmosphere inside was almost storybook-like and it is incredible to thinks that the beams and carvings were all hewn by hand more than two centuries ago.
The log walls have never been painted which somehow feels perfectly suited to such an old and storied building. The roof, on the other hand, has been treated with red ochre paint, where you can still see the initials and dates left by its original builders.
The pulpit, on the other hand, was painted in 1779 by master painter Tammelin from Jämsä. Its figures are said to depict Jesus, four of the apostles and several angels. Peeking out from beneath the pulpit is Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. All of these intricate carvings were crafted by local farmers.
The church’s altarpiece portrays the Las Supper and was painted by Carl Fredrik Blom in 1843.
You enter church through the bell tower where old artifacts once used in the church are on display. Perhaps the most intriguing among them are the old gravestones and the “shame bench”. In the past, anyone who committed a serious offense might be made to sit there for the entire congregation to see.
The bell tower also houses an armory where worshippers would store their weapons, a mortuary and an alms room intended for the pastor.
After exploring the inside of the church, it’s worth wandering around the grounds as well. The building itself is full of beautiful details, blending elements of both Renaissance and Gothic church architecture.
In the churchyard, you will find an old cemetery, and we spent a while strolling among the gravestones. There is something endlessly fascinating about reading the incriptions, imaging the lives of people who once lived in that era.
Petäjävesi Old Church is open for visitors daily from June through August. However, it is a popular wedding venue, so at times it might be closed from private ceremonies. During the winter months, visits are only possible by advance booking.
⛪️⛪️⛪️
Finland has no shortage of old and interesting churches, but along this one, a few have been especially memorable for us: the Temppeliaukio Church, Keminmaa Old Church and Kerimäki Church.
Temppeliaukio Church in Helsinki is carved directly into solid bedrock, making it truly unique. The Keminmaa Old Chruch holds a surprising secret; inside its beautiful nave you can see a real mummy! Keminmaa Old Chruch is along the way if you drive over to Finnish Lapland to Santa Claus Village or to visit border town Haparanda-Tornio. Kerimäki church, on the other hand, is the largest wooden church in the world.
We also love visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as they are often historically or culturally significant. In Finland, there are seven of them;
Petäjävesi Old Church
Old Rauma
Suomenlinna Fortress
Sammallahdenmäki Bronze Age Burial Site
Verla Groundwood and Board Mill
Struve Geodetic Arc
Kvarken Archipelago
Protecting these UNESCO sites is important as many of them are historically important or they are very fragile. Read the responsible traveler’s guide for visiting UNESCO sites in here.
Do you make a point of visiting old churches or UNESCO World Heritage Sites when you travel?
🇫🇮 OUR FINLAND TRAVEL RESOURCES 🇫🇮
🚋 If you’re visiting Helsinki, check out our favourite hotels and the best day trips from there.
🎅 Heading to Lapland? Here’s everything on Santa Claus Village and SantaPark in Rovaniemi.
🗝 Hotels & Vacation Rentals: We usually find the best hotel deals here and also check this site.
Vacation homes and condos we book through VRBO.
🚗 Car Rentals: We compare rental car prices on DiscoverCars to find the best deals worldwide.
🗺 Tours & Activities: We usually book tours through Viator or GetYourGuide.
Both have huge selections and easy cancellation.
🎟 Concerts & Events: We buy event tickets through Ticketmaster, one of the most reliable platforms.
✈️ Flights & Online Security: We use this VPN when searching for flights.
It can sometimes help finding better prices and also protects Wi-Fi when traveling.
📞 Travel eSIM & Data: For mobile data in Finland, we used Yesim and it worked well for that.
🩹 Travel Insurance: We always travel with insurance and use SafetyWing on our trips.
