Karja Church

Saaremaa, Estonia

The towerless Gothic style church of St. Catherine in Karja is the smallest church in Saaremaa island. The church was built in the late 13th or early 14th century. Although small, it is the one of the most beautiful churches in Saaremaa. The architectural design of the church is simple: a two bayed nave, a choir and a vestry. It is the sculptural decor that makes the church a real jewel. Its portals, bosses and vaulting supports are decorated with High Gothic stone decor.

The most interesting detail in the church is a relief that was later set into the wall of the porch. It depicts the scene at Calvary with Mary and John mourning for Christ.

Reference: Saaremaa.ee

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Address

Karja, Saaremaa, Estonia
See all sites in Saaremaa

Details

Founded: 13-14th century
Category: Religious sites in Estonia
Historical period: Danish and Livonian Order (Estonia)

More Information

www.saaremaa.ee
www.7is7.com

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Angla Windmills (2,2 km)


Ruins of the Käina Church (34 km)
Kuressaare Castle (34 km)
Muhu Museum (22 km)
The Weighing House (33,3 km)
Muhu Church (30,1 km)
Asva Settlement (20,9 km)
Kuressaare Town Hall (33,2 km)
Hiiumaa Museum (53,5 km)
Kassari Manor (34,2 km)

User Reviews

andrey basenko (5 months ago)
XIV century
Mateusz P. (5 months ago)
Beautiful place, special atmosphere
Chamara Wijesinghe (7 months ago)
Beautiful church well preserved in its authentic sense. The interior has the features of gothic and medieval touches and it's impressive how it has survived this long with no damaged to exterior or interior structures. Must visit if you are in this beautiful island. Recommended you read about it before or go with a guide who knows the history. Not too far from the town.
Lauri Lauter (2 years ago)
Very good
Thomas Seidenglanz (2 years ago)
Very interesting place with an almost spooky atmosphere. Definitely recommend!
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Lübeck Cathedral

Lübeck Cathedral is a large brick-built Lutheran cathedral in Lübeck, Germany and part of the Lübeck UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1173 Henry the Lion founded the cathedral to serve the Diocese of Lübeck, after the transfer in 1160 of the bishop's seat from Oldenburg in Holstein under bishop Gerold. The then Romanesque cathedral was completed around 1230, but between 1266 and 1335 it was converted into a Gothic-style building with side-aisles raised to the same height as the main aisle.

On the night of Palm Sunday (28–29 March) 1942 a Royal Air Force bombing raid destroyed a fifth of the town centre. Several bombs fell in the area around the church, causing the eastern vault of the quire to collapse and destroying the altar which dated from 1696. A fire from the neighbouring cathedral museum spread to the truss of the cathedral, and around noon on Palm Sunday the towers collapsed. An Arp Schnitger organ was lost in the flames. Nevertheless, a relatively large portion of the internal fittings was saved, including the cross and almost all of the medieval polyptychs. In 1946 a further collapse, of the gable of the north transept, destroyed the vestibule almost completely.

Reconstruction of the cathedral took several decades, as greater priority was given to the rebuilding of the Marienkirche. Work was completed only in 1982.

The cathedral is unique in that at 105 m, it is shorter than the tallest church in the city. This is the consequence of a power struggle between the church and the guilds.

The 17 m crucifix is the work of the Lübeck artist Bernt Notke. It was commissioned by the bishop of Lübeck, Albert II. Krummendiek, and erected in 1477. The carvings which decorate the rood screen are also by Notke.

Since the war, the famous altar of Hans Memling has been in the medieval collection of the St. Annen Museum, but notable polyptychs remain in the cathedral.

In the funeral chapels of the southern aisle are Baroque-era memorials by the Flemish sculptor Thomas Quellinus.

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