Church of Vilupulli, Wooden Catholic church in Chonchi, Chile

The Church of Vilupulli is a wooden building with a steep roof located in the Chiloé Archipelago off southern Chile. The entire structure was built from wood using construction methods developed and refined by local craftspeople over time.

The building was constructed in the early 1900s and received designation as a National Monument of Chile in 1971. In 2000 it gained UNESCO World Heritage status alongside other wooden churches of the region.

The name Vilupulli comes from Mapudungun and means "hill of the snake". The patron saint is Saint Anthony, whose feast is held on 13 June. Inside, look for the seated Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, carved with blue eyes and a wooden rosary, her right foot on a green serpent made of stuffed canvas; it was restored at the Museo Regional de Ancud between 1998 and 1999.

The church stands in Vilupulli, a rural sector of the Chonchi commune, not in Chonchi town itself, so reach it by the local road from Chonchi. The building is 12 by 28 m with an 18 m tower. Access depends on the local caretaker, so arrange entry in advance.

The church is dedicated to Saint Anthony, and local people visit it on his feast day on June 13 each year. This annual celebration shows how much the place still matters to the community.