What to do and see in Estonia, Estonia: The Best Churches & Cathedrals

Ilumagi chapel was built by Palmse’s Baron Carl Magnus von der Pahlen between 1814 and 1843 on the site of a former wooden chapel. Its windows are adorned with stained glass produced by the Pahlens and wealthier farmers and officials from Palmse manor. In the cemetery you will see the handiwork of local smiths and stone hewers in its crosses. The fenced-off section of the cemetery holds the remains of the Pahlen family.

The Crucifixion of Our Lord church in Johvi was completed in 1895 as part of the plan of Estonian governor Shakhovskoy to make Johvi the centre of the Russian Orthodox faith in the north-east of the country. The nearby Puhtitsa convent of the Dormition of the Mother of God, known to locals as the Kuremae convent, was also founded by nuns who came to Johvi. Built in Historicist style from natural stone and red brick, the church is open to visitors every day in summer.Did you know…?*The Crucifixion of Our Lord church in Johvi was the first place of work of the young Aleksei Mihhailovitš Ridiger – who would go on to become Aleksius II, patriarch of all Russia.

Kuusalu Church which is dedicated to protodeacon martyr St. Lawrence is considered to be one of the oldest stone churches in Northern Europe. It could have been the Gotlandish Cistercian monks of the priory of a Roma monastery locating in Kolga who started to build a house of God on the boundaries of their landed property in Kuusalu most probably at the end of the 13th century and according to their own custom next to holy springs, not on a crest of a hill, but in a hollow. In addition to the pulpit, altar and tower clock the older art heritage in St. Lawrence Church in Kuusalu also includes a chandelier, candle holders and an embossed brass bracket from the 17th century and Eucharistic vessels made of tin.

The Apostolic Orthodox Church was built from 1899 to 1901 and consecrated on 5 May 1905 to celebrate Jesus going to Jerusalem. The activities of the Orthodox congregation were terminated in 1961 and the church was used as the warehouse of a collective farm. In the 1980s, Rannu State Farm decided to make amends for the injustice and restored the church. Rannu Congregation of the Estonian New Apostolic Church uses the building today.

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 Helme-Torva Apostolic Orthodox Church of the Birth of Christ was built in Valga Street in the years 1903 to 1904. Karl Shurin was in charge of the building work. The two domes and bell tower made the church one of the most imposing churches in the Viljandi Apostolic Orthodox Deanery. The church was seriously damaged during the fierce battles fought in September 1944 and it was only restored in 1990 as a chamber hall.Interesting facts:* the church was also used for salt and cement storage during the Soviet times;* the church-chamber hall currently belongs to the Lutheran church.

The Suure-Jaani parish stretches over the area which at the end of Estonian Antiquity had Lembitu’s stronghold in Lohavere as its centre. Lembitu was a famous leader of an ancient Estonian county during the Ancient War of Independence.The church built in the middle of the 13th century consisted of the choir, the three-part nave and the steeple, possibly the first steeple in Estonia. The church got its present appearance from 1869 to 1872. Today, only few medieval details can be seen. Interesting to know:In the room under the steeple, there is a cross from the graveyard with the name Anne Ratecep and the year 1598 written on it. According to the legend, Anne washed and clothed the ones who had died of plague during the Livonian War. For that, the people dedicated a cross to her.

The cornerstone was laid on the Church of the Ascension of Our Lord in Angerja in 1899. It was built in accordance with the plans of architect Vladimir Lunski. Compared to the other Orthodox churches in Rapla County, the Angerja church overflows with Russian soul.Did you know…?*During the Soviet era the church was used to store fertiliser*The church is home to one of Estonia’s contemporary iconic paintings *The Angerja church is one of very few Estonian Apostolic Orthodox churches in which a new iconostasis has been painted, including icons of all the saints

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.

The church of Kardla was dedicated to John the Baptist and was constructed in 1863. It is the third church in Kardla.The barons of Emmaste, Suuremoisa and Putkaste were the initiators of the idea to build the church and gave the baron of Kardla 2000 roubles for that purpose. The workers of the cloth factory made voluntary donations and a part of the money for the construction was taken from the workers wages.It is an architecturally harmonic, typical hall church with an “open” bell tower crowning the western facade (unique in Estonia).The architecture of the stylish and beautiful church in Kardla is simple and ascetic. This architectural monument is one of the most distinguished working-class churches.