Things to do in Saare County, Saare County: The Best Churches & Cathedrals

St. Madeline's Church in Ruhnu is the oldest known wooden building still standing in Estonia - its construction was started in 1643. After the Ruhnu Swedish left, the purpose of this house of God was forgotten for half a century. The wooden church was newly consecrated in 1999.Good to know:The collection of glass paintings from the Ruhnu wooden church is located in the History Museum in Stockholm.The oldest parts of the building are the polygonal choir and altar, and the nave.The altar is covered with a thin, polished stone slate; the oaken frame stands on sand and is open towards the south.

The construction of Valjala Church was started in 1227. The oldest part of the church is the choir room to which the nave was later added. At Valjala Church you can see a Romanesque baptismal font from the 13th century, which is believed to be one of the most unique pieces of carved stonework in the Baltic states. In the choir room of the church you can marvel the murals which depict six apostles and are painted at the time when the original chapel was built - the later choir room part. Good to know: * Valjala Church is the oldest stone church built on the territory of Estonia. * In the third quarter of the 13th century, the church was transformed into a fortified church * The church tower was built in the 17th century above the vestry.

Karja church was built in the beginning of 14th century. The church has retained almost unchanged its initial shape. The church is one-naved and doesn't have bell tower. On top of the altar are extant paganish magic ceiling signs that were painted during construction.In the design of the church You will mostly see elements of early and high Gothic that are combined with some roman lines.Interesting to know: Karja church is one of the richest of sculptures in the whole Northern Europe.The arcs of the church exceed the height of the walls two times.Karja church is the smallest church on Saaremaa.

Muhu Church has been mentioned in chronicles since 1267. The church is a beautiful building in early Gothic style. The interior of Muhu Church boasts high ceilings with high domical arches and cross vaults in the choir section. Fragments of murals that date back to the 1330s have been preserved on the northern and eastern walls of the church’s choir room.You can see a rare trapeze-shaped grave plate from the 13th or the 13th century in the church wall above the door leading to the staircase.Interesting facts:Muhu Church is one of the rural churches with the most beautiful proportions in Estonia.The pulpit of Muhu Church is one of the oldest in Saare County.The church has also been used as a defence facility.

The Poide Church was built in the middle of the 14th century on the ruins of the Poide Order Castle. The existence of the castle is witnessed by the ruins lying under ground north of the church. Lower parts of the side walls of the church now standing there are the only ones remaining from that period.Near the southern wall of the church, you will see trapezoid-shaped gravestones and their fragments walled into the floor of the choir.Good to know:The Poide Church is the biggest single nave church in Western Estonia and the islands.The rich carved decor of the church is one of the best examples of Estonian High Gothic.The main portal of the church is situated to the south, not to the west like in other churches.

Kaarma one-nave church was established in the second half of 13th century and was later rebuilt to be a two-nave church. Church is decorated with ornamental and figural fragments of frescos in secco technique that are the same age as initial church.Near pulpit You can see polychromous wooden sculpture of St.Joseph that belongs to Northern-German school.Interesting to know:First time on Saaremaa the supporting pillars were used in Kaarma churchThe eastern wall of church's chorus is decorated with rare in Estonia triple windowThe prototype for pulpit of Kaarma church was a pulpit of Lubeck church

The church together with the gates from dolomite and surrounding wall is under protection as architectural memory. The church built in 1790 is three-naved in low-key late classicistic style. Interesting is built at the same time three-part gate. On each side of its main entrance wall surface hang two half-columns with Doric serifs.Interesting to know:Church was built by order of Catherine the II. Since the congregation was established there were 30 priests.

Ruhnu's New Church was built two meters from the old wooden church. The walls of the church are made from rocks cut to shape on location. Only the church tower was built from wood. The New Church was consecrated in 1912.Good to know:Proud standing on the church balcony is Nikolaus Bell, one of the oldest church bells in Estonia.Only candlelight is used for lighting services.In 2006, the congregation of the small island with a population of 60 used their own resources to repair the leaning cross at the top of the tower, and the tower top shot full of holes by seal hunters.

The church of Kihelkonna was built in the second half of 13th century. Initial church was without tower that was added to the church in the end of 19th century. Most impressive are the high domical hewn arcs with relief keystones.South of the church You will see distinct bell tower - campanile.Interesting to know:The tower of Kihelkonna church was initially used also as lighthouse.The altar wall and pulpit are the oldest in Estonia.The campanile of the church is the only such kind of building in the whole Estonia.