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.

User Reviews

TH3 TR/\V1R (9 months ago)
Catholic church just a few steps north of Rauma old town. Nice interior.

Enzo philippe (14 months ago)
superb church in old Rauma, authentic, I loved it.

Mark Emerson Dela Cruz (15 months ago)
Magnificent and serene spiritual house situated at Old Rauma.

DarkShadow (6 years ago)
Beautiful old stone church.

Mirta Martin (6 years ago)
Kaunis ja historiallisesti rikas kirkko. (On Suomen suosituimpia tiekirkkoja). Kesäisin paikalla kirkko-opas. Kirkossa järjestetään perus messujen lisäksi musiikkitilaisuuksia, perheille suunnattua ohjelmaa ja nuorten toteuttamia messuja.

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Kakesbeck is one of the largest medieval fortifications in Münsterland and the oldest castle in Lüdinghausen. The imposingly grown complex originated in 1120 as a motte, a small hilltop tower castle. After numerous changes of ownership, the castle was extended onto two islands, but it was not until the 14th century that it underwent significant alterations and extensions under the von Oer family. The estate experienced its heyday in the middle of the 18th century, when it covered an area of almost one square kilometre and consisted of five further outer castles in addition to the core castle, which were secured by ramparts and moats.

The well-maintained condition of the castle today is thanks to the late Wilfried Grewing, the former lord of the castle. The foundation named after him has been particularly committed to preserving the property since 2020.

The Church of the Holy Cross

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