Utsjoki Church, Stone church in Utsjoki parish village, Finland
Utsjoki Church is a stone church located in the northernmost municipality of Finland near Lake Mantojärvi, with interior space for around 230 worshippers. The building stands on protected land and forms part of a heritage area that includes traditional structures from earlier centuries.
Construction began in 1853 under orders from Russian Emperor Nicholas I, with architect Ernst Lohrmann overseeing the design. The church dates from a period when this northern region was under Russian authority.
This church serves the community in Finland's northernmost municipality, where Sámi traditions remain part of daily life and local identity. Visitors can sense how the building connects the present to indigenous heritage of the region.
This site lies about 6 kilometers south of Utsjoki village along Highway 4, making it accessible by car. The surrounding landscape offers opportunities for walks, and the nearby lake shapes the natural environment.
The site includes a heritage area with 14 traditional huts that served as gathering places for markets and religious ceremonies until the 1930s, offering insight into how Sámi families lived together. These structures reveal daily patterns from an earlier era when this space held greater importance for the local community.
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