Very old Finnish churches near Tampere worth visiting.

Two old Finnish churches in Sastamala which are on the "must see" list are the Pyha Olavi and the Holy Mary Churc .These Finnish churches are well over 490 years old. Pyhä Olavi church is estimated to be founded in 1510.

First let's visit Pyhä Olavi.(Vanhankirkontie 20, Vammala) church in Sastamala.This church is only a few hundred meters from the Mieli Aitta Cafe.

Our starting point is the road from Mieli Aitta's cafe a few hundred meters in between an old Finnish farmhouse.

We'll get in our car and go!

On our way to Pyhä Olavi Church in Sastamala.
(Taking a drive with a car,notice the scenery around us as we approach the church.)
Farmhouse, lake and road.
Driving toward Pyhä Olavi Church in Sastamala.Lake on our right,old red Farmhouse on the left.

Driving from Mieli Aitta Cafe to Pyhä Olavi Church.
(Notice Lake Rautavesi approaching on the right!)
Take a closer look...

Close to Nature! An opening in the road ahead!
(Birch trees lurching over a fence on the left,more of Lake Rautavesi on the right.)
Opening in the road...
A few hundred meters ahead...an opening in the road.

The Pyhä Olavi Church is in view!(Wood fence along the side of the road on the left.)
Take a look without the car windows.
Sastamala Pyhä Olavi Church is 50 meters ahead on the left.

And closer we drive...
Take a through the windshield...
Church windows are 5 by 4,5 feet wide

We arrive to get a good view of this aged structure

Pyhä Olavi Church once belonged to a type of large Finnish Church Parish from year 1200 oversaw the care off this church along with other wooden churches in this area. Another look at Pyhä Olavi...
Front of church three sets of large windows let lots of light in.

Boat landing dock.
Catch a ride to downtown Tampere from here if you want to order a charter boat?
The landing dock...
This boat dock holds at least 10 small row boats, or 3-5 longer fishing boats between 7-20 feet long.

!-The Church's outside contour and design-! (This side of Pyhä Olavi is facing Lake Rautavesi.)
Up closer...
Increadible brick work and finely carved stones.This church looks like something in the fairy tale books we read as children.
First the foundation is built with tightly fit heavy stones.A wall is formed by mortaring more tightly fit stones together. Then bricks on top of walls of stone forms the middle of the wall.

A backround with a field and a lake.
(Viewing Pyhä Olavi church from Mieli Aitta's smoke sauna.)
Closer view...

What Pyhä Olavi looks like at a distance of 1000 meters.
Looking from road
View again...

More old Finnish churches...On we go to our next church...

...Sastamala's Holy Mary church from the middle age period. GPS coordinates 61° 22′ 54″ N, 23° 0′ 5″ E

This church has a very large and steep roof

Overview of Karkku churchThe windows up closer...

Karkku Church windows
(A view from the side!)
outside windows...
Karkku Church Outside

See the 'old stone' style! The side of the Karkku Church

Take a closer look...
Karkku Church Outside side shows how the corner widens as it touches the ground.Interesting design!

Outside Corner
Old Finnish church style !--Stone and mortar only--!
Take another look...
Outside corner has some sharp rock,grey granite, with white mortar.

The Entrance Inside the church
looking out....
Entrance is at least 6 feet by 4,5 feet wide. You can see how thick the wall is. About 3-4 feet (120cm plus) thick

Church windows
(From the inside of the church)
Take a closer look...
Church windows are 5 by 4,5 feet wide

More church windows. Facing the front of the church.
From the inside of the church
A look at the windows...
Front of church three sets of large windows let lots of light in.

The blue sign pointing where to walk. Open from 11am-6pm.jpg
This is where you can park your car.

Karkku Church Outside parking and opening hours.

Enough old Finnish churches for today!