Protected buildingNotable

Sääksmäen kirkko

Valkeakoski

Why visit

Telling of the prehistoric settlement that grew around the Rapola hillfort, the medieval church of Sääksmäki sits as an inseparable part of the area's cultural landscape.

Look for: Look up at the pointed-arch concrete vault of the nave, whose paintings — like the furnishings — date from the early 1930s.

About this site

Stone church, medieval. The medieval church, which attests to the continuity of settlement that grew up around Rapola hillfort in prehistoric times, is also a firmly integrated part of the area's cultural environment as a landscape element. The church follows the basic type of the medieval church. On the north side, however, there is an 1800s extension in place of a sacristy; on the south side a 1930s extension following the form of the weapon house.

The large cross niche forming the eastern gable's brick ornamentation is repeated in the western gable, where the adjoining round and band niches also have painted decoration. The church hall is covered by a pointed-arch concrete vault which, with its paintings, as a fixed interior, dates from the early 1930s.

The stone base of the bell tower in the churchyard belongs to a tower already built on the site in the late 18th century. The current appearance, in which the upper part of the tower is of concrete construction, is the work of K.S. Kallio. He also drew the mortuary vault building located northwest of the stone wall.

Official description (Museovirasto) — machine-translated from Finnish

Municipality
Valkeakoski
Heritage Agency record

Part of these journeys

Sääksmäen kirkko, Valkeakoski | Aikapolku