Architecture sights in Finland
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Neristan
This delightful area of wooden houses known as Neristan is what remains of the working class area of Kokkola (Neristan means 'lower town') where the sailors and fishermen lived. Until relatively recently, the river was wide and navigable up to here, and fishing boats docked to unload their finny cargo and sell it in the kauppatori.
It's a pleasure to wander around these streets (one of the most picturesque is Läntinen kirkkokatu), which have a range of antique shops as well as a couple of cafés and restaurants. The tourist office publishes a good walking tour of town.
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Temppeliaukio Church
Hewn into solid rock, Temppeliaukio Church was designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen in 1969 and remains one of Helsinki’s foremost attractions. The church symbolises the modern innovativeness of Finnish religious architecture and features a stunning 24m-diameter roof covered in 22km of copper stripping. There are regular concerts, with great acoustics; the entrance is at the northern end of Fredrikinkatu.
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Pedersöre Church
The beautiful Pedersöre Church, on the way into town from the south, was originally built in the 1400s, but the bell tower dates from the 1760s. During the reign of King Gustav III the church was greatly enlarged to become a cross-shaped structure. Thankfully, the architect thumbed his nose at the king's plan to demolish the 85m spire. It's well worth the walk out to see it.
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Oulu Cathedral
The rather imposing 19th-century cathedral has Finland's oldest portrait (dating from 1611) above the door to the vestry, and a fine altarpiece of the Ascension. A much older church, built in 1777, stood here until the great fire of 1822. This version was designed by the German architect CL Engel. It got promoted to cathedral in 1900 when the bishopric moved here from Kuopio.
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Rovaniemi Church
Completed in 1950, this church replaces the one destroyed during WWII. The impressively large fresco behind the altar depicts a Christ figure emerging from Lappish scenery. A work of Lennart Segerstråle, it has two sides, one populated by the faithful, the other by brawling drunkards and ravening wolves.
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St Nicholas Church
St Nicholas Church was founded in the 13th century. There are beautiful frescoes over the altar, but most striking is the Dance of Death frieze opposite the entrance door. In this frieze, grinning Reapers escort various members of society to the afterlife; all are equal in death.
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Norrmalmsgatan
One of the prettiest streets is Norrmalmsgatan. The area is wholly residential; there are no trendy antique shops or quirky cafés to slake a visitor's thirst! To enter, you pass through an ornamental entranceway, with a (visually) striking clocktower bridging the street.
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Loviisa Church
On the market square, the impressive red-brick neo-Gothic Loviisa Church, built in 1865, is a dominant feature; guides are on hand in summer to give free tours. It was designed by Georg Theodor Chiewitz, who also designed many of the civic buildings in the wake of the blaze.
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Turku Cathedral
Called the ‘mother church’ of Finland’s Lutheran faith, Turku Cathedral towers over the town in a spacious square that makes even approaching it feel divine. Consecrated in 1300, the building has been rebuilt over the centuries after fire damage.
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Orthodox Uspensky Cathedral
East of the market, on Katajanokka island, you can't miss the magnificent Orthodox Uspensky Cathedral . The red-brick exterior supports 13 gilded cupolas ('onion domes' designed by a Russian architect of the tsar) representing Christ and his disciples.
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Kajaani Church
In town, the beautiful wooden Church from 1896 is a rare example of neo-Gothic architecture. It's typically Karelian, with lots of ornate wooden trim and a delicate, slender, Italianate belltower.
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Heinola Ridge
Heinola Ridge has a few attractions. The 1900 Harjupaviljonki pavilion is meant to look like a Japanese temple. In summer there is an art exhibition here. Nearby, the tower offers good views.
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Orthodox Church of Saints Peter & Paul
A highlight of Old Hamina includes the 1837 Orthodox Church of Saints Peter & Paul, thought to have been created by architect Louis Visconti, who designed Napoleon's tomb in France.
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Orthodox Church
The unusual and petite 19th-century onion-domed Orthodox church, opposite the tourist office, was built by order of Tsar Alexander I of Russia.
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Wooden Houses
The most interesting thing in Kristinestad is the town itself, with its rows of colourful, old, painted wooden houses and its charming small-town feel.
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Old Church
Behind the customs house is the striking red-wood Old Church, from 1698 and retaining much of its original detail.
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Hamina Church
A highlight of Old Hamina includes the neoclassical Hamina Church (Old Hamina), built in 1843 and designed by CL Engel.
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Kuhmo Church
The striking 1816 wooden Kuhmo Church in the town centre is a venue for concerts during the chamber music festival.
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Tornio Church
Tornio church was completed in 1686 and is one of the most beautiful wooden churches in Finland.
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Alexanterin Kirkko
The notable Alexanterin Kirkko is beautiful with its red brick and green spires, named for the Tsar Alexander II.
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Hanko Church
The neo-Gothic Hanko Church, built in 1892, was damaged in WWII but has been thoroughly renovated.
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Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church features some old icons brought from St Petersburg.
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