Kerimaki Church
Wooden Church Completed In 1847, Widely Described As The Largest Wooden Church In The World · Kerimaki, South Savo
Kerimaki Church is a huge yellow-and-white wooden church standing above Lake Puruvesi in the countryside of South Savo, about 23 km east of Savonlinna, and it is widely described as the largest wooden church in the world. It was completed in 1847 for a rural parish of only a few thousand people, yet it was built to seat around 3,000, with room for many more standing; the local story says the plans were misread from feet to metres, but that is almost certainly a legend, and the more likely explanation is that the parish simply wanted a church big enough for everyone and the church law of the time encouraged generous size. The cross-shaped interior, with galleries, a central dome and pale timber, is startling in scale for a village building. People come to stand inside that space, to hear a summer concert, and to see it on a Savonlinna trip. The honest caveat: the church is unheated and its interior is open to visitors mainly in summer, roughly June to August; in winter services move to a small heated church beside it, and a visit takes under an hour.
Kerimaki, Savonlinna, near Lake Puruvesi, Kerimaki, South Savo, Finland
The interior is open to visitors mainly in summer, roughly from early June to late August, usually daily in the daytime; the exact dates and hours change year to year, and it can close for weddings, funerals and services, so check the current schedule with the Kerimaki parish or Savonlinna tourist information. Outside summer the big church is closed except for special occasions, because it is unheated; the parish then uses the small winter church next to it. You can see the exterior at any time. Getting there: drive about 25-30 minutes from Savonlinna; local buses run but are infrequent. No booking is needed for a normal visit; group guided tours and summer concerts may need booking.