Ruokolahti church

Ruokolahti Church Hill and Ruokolahti Church are the pride of the municipality. Ruokolahti's impressive church is the fourth in the municipality. Completed in 1854, the wooden cruciform church is based on Empire and Gothic architecture. The architect Ernst Lohrmann is credited as the designer. According to anecdotal evidence, the church was actually designed by Albert Edelfelt's father. The builder was Theodor Tolpo.

Ruokolahti's womens on the church hill

Among the most famous works of Albert Edelfelt, one of the most famous artists of the Finnish Golden Age, is the painting 'Ruokolahti's Mares on Church Hill' (1887). Edelfelt sought out authentic Karelians from Ruokolahti for his work of art and sketched his painting on the church hill. Edelfelt created the actual work in his studio, at his family's summer cottage in Haikko. Behind the Ruokolahti church there is now a monument to Edelfelt's visit to Ruokolahti. The memorial was erected in the same place where the women in Edelfelt's painting are sitting.

Image: goSaimaa