Tampere Cathedral, Lutheran cathedral in Tampere, Finland
Tampere Cathedral is a Lutheran house of worship in the Finnish city of Tampere with a granite exterior and two towers that each rise 64 meters into the air. The building follows the National Romantic style with reddish stone, pointed arches, and a central bell tower above the entrance.
Construction began in 1902 following designs by Finnish architect Lars Sonck and was completed in 1907 under the name St. John's Church. The function as a bishop's church came later when the diocese established its administration in the region.
The interior walls carry paintings by Hugo Simberg, including the Wounded Angel and the Garden of Death, while Magnus Enckell created the altar piece. These works show an unusual interpretation of religious themes with figures from everyday life and somber landscapes.
The church stands at Tuomiokirkonkatu 3 in the city center and is open to visitors most days, with guided tours available by advance booking at +358 40 804 8765. The interior lies up a few steps from the main entrance, so calling ahead helps clarify accessible routes.
The ceiling shows an unusual painting of a winged serpent against a red background, which often sparks discussions among visitors about its religious meaning. Simberg also added a naked boy carrying a wreath, which similarly raises questions about symbolism.
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