Turku Cathedral

Turku, Finland

Turku Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, and the country's national shrine. It is the central church of the Archdiocese of Turku and the seat of the Archbishop of Finland. It is also regarded as one of the major records of Finnish architectural history.

The cathedral was originally built out of wood in the late 13th century, and was dedicated as the main cathedral of Finland in 1300, the seat of the bishop of Turku. It was considerably expanded in the 14th and 15th centuries, mainly using stone as the construction material.

During the 15th century, side-chapels were added along the north and south sides of the nave, containing altars dedicated to various saints. By the end of the Middle Ages these numbered 42 in total. The roof-vaults were also raised during the latter part of the 15th century to their present height of 24 meters. Thus, by the beginning of the Modern era, the church had approximately taken on its present shape. The major later addition to the cathedral is the tower, which has been rebuilt several times, as a result of repeated fires. The worst damage was caused by the Great Fire of Turku in 1827, when most of the town was destroyed, along with the interior of both the tower and the nave and the old tower roof. The present spire of the tower, constructed after the great fire, reaches a height of 101 meters above sea level, and is visible over a considerable distance as the symbol of both the cathedral and the city of Turku itself.

In the reformation the cathedral was taken by the Lutheran Church of Finland (Sweden). Most of the present interior also dates from the restoration carried out in the 1830s, following the Great Fire. The altarpiece, depicting the Transfiguration of Jesus, was painted in 1836 by the Swedish artist Fredrik Westin. The reredos behind the High Altar, and the pulpit in the crossing, also both date from the 1830s, and were designed by german architect Carl Ludvig Engel, known in Finland for his several other highly regarded works. The walls and roof in the chancel are decorated with frescos in the Romantic style by the court painter Robert Wilhelm Ekman, which depict events from the life of Jesus, and the two key events in the history of the Finnish Church: the baptism of the first Finnish Christians by Bishop Henry by the spring at Kupittaa, and the presentation to King Gustav Vasa by the Reformer Michael Agricola of the first Finnish translation of the New Testament.

The cathedral was badly damaged during the Great Fire of Turku in 1827, and was rebuilt to a great extent afterwards.

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Details

Founded: 1400-1410
Category: Religious sites in Finland
Historical period: Middle Ages (Finland)

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Marco Giustiniani (2 years ago)
The cathedral is important but nothing exceptional. What made the visit great was the rehearsal with the organ (every Tuesday, there are free concerts). The museum is also a big plus. Compact on the right side of the church.
Pink Mean (2 years ago)
Turku Cathedral is a timeless marvel, its intricate architecture and serene atmosphere create a deeply moving experience
Jana Krištanová (2 years ago)
Unless you are very much into churches, the best way for me to enjoy this building is to sit at the outside restaurant/food stand area close by, and just chill there. You will have the church in the background for the pictures, and at the same time, the feeling that you are in the city center.
Max Xie (2 years ago)
Beautiful castle, full of history and many notable Swedish people who are laid to rest here. Clean toilets available too but only one for each gender + handicap toilet near the entrance. Entry to the cathedral is free of charge. Very big and peaceful. There's also a corner for children to play.
Jukka-Pekka Puro (2 years ago)
"Proper Finland" is the oldest part of the country, and the Cathedral of Turku represent the place in which Finland, as we know it today, took its' first steps. The old graves under the cathedral are just like in the middle Europes cathedrals, but in addition, there are, for example miniatures from the vessels that were absolute life line for Finns for centuries. Turku Cathedral is part of everyday life even today. At the time of the visit, there were exhibition from Ukraine and children's music school. Open for all for free.
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