Église de Ulrika Eleonora

Ulrika Eleonora Church was a wooden building with a cross-shaped floor plan where all four arms extended equally, topped by a tall tower in reddish tones. It occupied a central place on Senate Square and defined the appearance of this important public space.

The wooden structure was built between 1724 and 1727 by master builder Anders Hackenberg during Finland's time under Swedish rule. It stood as a landmark on Senate Square for roughly a century before being demolished to make way for a cathedral.

The church was named after Queen Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden, reflecting royal connections of that era. People gathered here for religious services and community events during its time as an active place of worship.

Black stones set into the pavement of Senate Square mark the exact footprint of the former church, allowing visitors to trace its floor plan directly on the ground. This simple outline makes it easy to visualize where the building stood and how it related to the surrounding space.

The bells that once rang from the church tower were saved when the building was demolished and now sound from Helsinki Cathedral nearby. This passage of the bells creates a hidden link between the vanished wooden structure and its successor.