St. Lawrence Church

St. Lawrence Church, or Pühalepa Church, is the oldest church on the island of Hiiumaa. The church was built without a tower in the Gothic style in the 13th century. During the Livonian War (1558-1583) the church suffered a lot and had to be rebuilt after the war. At the beginning of the 17th century, the construction of a bell tower began. In 1770 it was given two new floors and in 1874 the church got its present form. From 1951 the church was used as a warehouse and fell into ruin. The church in Pühalepa was consecrated again in 1993.

About this building

Key Features

  • Architecture

Other nearby buildings

Wikimedia Commons

St Olav’s Church

St Olav’s Church was built from the 14th century. Only the choir of the church remains from this period. The vault dates from the 15th century and the present longhouse dates from 1632. After the Second World War, the church was abandoned and was not reconsecrated until 1990.

Wikimedia Commons/Ivo Kruusamägi

Muhu Church

The church of Muhu was built in the early Gothic style, probably in the 13th century. The present church owes much to a reconstruction in 1738 after it was destroyed during the Great Northern War. Given the church's few narrow windows and other architectural features, it is assumed that the church was built for defence purposes.

Wikimedia Commons/IvoFalk

Haapsalu Cathedral

Haapsalu Cathedral dates from the mid-13th century. It is one of the largest single-nave churches in the Nordic and Baltic countries. The church was damaged by a fire in 1688, and during a storm in 1726 the roof of the church was destroyed again. During the restoration work that took place in 1886-1889, the building was modified, the Romanesque portal was replaced by a pseudo-Gothic portal and the fragments of preserved wall paintings were covered.