Archangel Michael's church, Turku, Finland

Archangel Michael's Church was designed by famous architect Lars Sonck and finished in 1905. When Sonck won the competition for the church in 1894, he was only a 23-year old architectural student. The neogothic style red-brick church dominates the western skyline of the city of Turku. It’s one of the most popular wedding churches in Turku being able to seat 1,800 people.

User Reviews

Ashley Chan (8 months ago)
Beautiful church with wonderful staff. Note that I came here on a Sunday, and they have mass (in Finnish) at 11am. If you were like me and read that they have organ (instrument) demonstrations at noon, please note that they do not happen in the summer unfortunately. It still is beautiful to look at though. Also note that when you check the doors for entry, try the main entrance first (3 doors) and the middle (2nd) right door (pull) is your best bet. This Church is also a Pokémon Go Gym ;P

Sahan Liyanaarachchi (9 months ago)
Nice architecture!

Mikko Tyllinen (9 months ago)
Very atmospheric, elegant, beautiful, intricately designed church with nice acoustic. Mishaels church is a distinguished example of the neolithic style in architecture. And is one of the most popular weddings churches in Turku, being able to seat 1800 people. Church was finished in 1905

Rafael Bohorque (13 months ago)
Beautiful church in and out. Inside it looks a bit tacky, that you may think it is not a church. I like how it looks spotless and free for everybody to take a peak.

Nana Långstedt (3 years ago)
Looks like a fairytale castle on the outside. Beautiful, intricately designed church.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright szeke

Historic Site of the week

Church of Our Lady before Týn

The Church of Our Lady before Týn is a dominant feature of the Old Town of Prague and has been the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century. The church's towers are 80 m high and topped by four small spires.

In the 11th century, this area was occupied by a Romanesque church, which was built there for foreign merchants coming to the nearby Týn Courtyard. Later it was replaced by an early Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn in 1256. Construction of the present church began in the 14th century in the late Gothic style under the influence of Matthias of Arras and later Peter Parler. By the beginning of the 15th century, construction was almost complete; only the towers, the gable and roof were missing. The church was controlled by Hussites for two centuries, including John of Rokycan, future archbishop of Prague, who became the church's vicar in 1427. The roof was completed in the 1450s, while the gable and northern tower were completed shortly thereafter during the reign of George of Poděbrady (1453–1471). His sculpture was placed on the gable, below a huge golden chalice, the symbol of the Hussites. The southern tower was not completed until 1511, under architect Matěj Rejsek.

After the lost Battle of White Mountain (1620) began the era of harsh recatholicisation (part of the Counter-Reformation). Consequently, the sculptures of 'heretic king' George of Poděbrady and the chalice were removed in 1626 and replaced by a sculpture of the Virgin Mary, with a giant halo made from by melting down the chalice. In 1679 the church was struck by lightning, and the subsequent fire heavily damaged the old vault, which was later replaced by a lower baroque vault.

Renovation works carried out in 1876–1895 were later reversed during extensive exterior renovation works in the years 1973–1995. Interior renovation is still in progress.

The northern portal is a wonderful example of Gothic sculpture from the Parler workshop, with a relief depicting the Crucifixion. The main entrance is located on the church's western face, through a narrow passage between the houses in front of the church.

The early baroque altarpiece has paintings by Karel Škréta from around 1649. The oldest pipe organ in Prague stands inside this church. The organ was built in 1673 by Heinrich Mundt and is one of the most representative 17th-century organs in Europe.

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