Petäjävesi Old Church
The cruciform church of Petäjävesi is an impressive example of northern wooden architecture, like the other WHS Urnes Stave Church and Kizhi Pogost.
The church was built between 1763 and 1765 by Jaakko Klemetinpoika Leppänen. It is located amidst a cluster of lakes which form a watercourse to Lake Päijänne. In the Finnish lake district churches were usually built along the watercourses. The churches were reached by boat and during wintertime along ice-ways.
Visit August 2005
Our luck with Finnish summer weather ran out the day we planned to visit the wooden church in Petajavesi. It was pouring when we got into our rental car, and we almost decided to skip the 1.5 hour drive north from Tampere. But you have to show stamina when collecting WHS, so off we went!
The church turned out to be very conveniently located next to the big road between Keuruu and Jyvaskala. You can't miss it, because it's rather large and has a romantic setting next to lake Päijänne. The exterior is not unlike the Urnes Stave Church that I visited a few years ago. Both are wonderful buildings in a spectacular natural environment, so I wouldn't prefer one above the other.
We arrived at 10 on Sunday morning and received a friendly welcome. A ceremony in front of about 20 locals had just started. A solemn protestant service it was. That gave us time to glance at the sturdy woorden interior design of this church. We didn't stay too long however, and quickly headed to the other side of the street for a warm cappucino in the gas station annex bar/restaurant.
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