world reviewer
Master carpenter Jaakko Klementinpoika Leppänen started construction on the Old Church at Petäjävesi in 1763 and it took him just a few years to complete. Centuries later, the church remains as a flawless embodiment of the wood architecture that dominated that era. Being such a great representation of 18th century architecture and church life, the Old Church is one of Finland’s World Heritage Sites.
Written by 
Sarah Clise.
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Petäjävesi Old Church
Petäjävesi Old Church, in central Finland, was built of logs between 1763 and 1765. This Lutheran country church is a typical example of an architectural tradition that is unique to eastern Scandinavia. It combines the Renaissance conception of a centrally planned church with older forms deriving from Gothic groin vaults.
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