Vimpeli Church, Lutheran church in Vimpeli, Finland
Vimpeli Church is a twelve-sided wooden structure in Finland with an unusual polygonal shape. The building serves as an active place of worship for the local Lutheran community.
The architect Jacob Rijf designed and completed construction in 1807, with the official opening in 1811. The structure reflects architectural influences from Rome adapted to Finnish wooden building traditions.
The altarpiece by R. W. Ekman inside reflects Finnish religious art from the 1800s. The building remains an active gathering place for the local Lutheran community.
Visitors can easily locate the building in the small community of Vimpeli and explore its distinctive form both inside and outside. The best time to visit is outside of service hours when the space is quiet and open for exploration.
The building is one of the few remaining round wooden churches in Finland, displaying an uncommon circular form instead of traditional rectangular designs. This shape drew inspiration from Rome's Pantheon architecture, making this building style exceptionally rare in the region.
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