For Groups
Planning a group trip to the Petäjävesi Old Church? There may visit up to 250 visitors at once to Petäjävesi Old Church. UNESCO church annually hosts groups from around the world.
Book a Guided Tour
Ask for more information and book a guided tour! Together, we will make your visit to Petäjävesi unforgettable!
Email: opas@petajavesi.fi
Phone: +358 40 5822 461
Opening Hours
Summer season 1.6.–31.8. Petäjävesi Old Church is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM (except Midsummer).
Winter season 1.9.–31.5. visits are organized by reservation only. Please book at least two weeks in advance. Please notice, that during the winter season, we respond to messages on weekdays from Monday to Thursday.
Admission fees
Summer season 1.6.–31.8.
Groups larger than 10 people: €6/person
Winter season 1.9.-31.5.
In the winter season, visits are only by advance reservation. Please make a reservation at least two weeks before your visit by contacting opas@petajavesi.fi.
Opening fee: €20/group
1–10 people: €80 (the price includes entrance fees and the opening fee).
More than 10 people: Entrance fee €6/person and an opening fee of €20/group.
In the winter season, entrance fees are paid in advance by invoice, which includes a invoicing fee of €6.
Choose the Best Guided Tour for Your Group
All visits include a guided tour of the Petäjävesi Old Church with a guide. The tour lasts 30–45 minutes and takes you on a journey through the incredible architecture of the UNESCO site and Finnish life in the 1700s and 1800s. From May to September, your group has the opportunity to explore locally crafted souvenirs after the tour, made by local artisans.
Select a guided tour that best suits the interests of your group.
UNESCO Church Story
General tour, approximately 30 minutes.
Our most popular tour option takes you deep into the story of the old church. In this tour, you will learn why Petäjävesi Old Church is Finland’s only UNESCO church and what it reveals about Finnish life from the 1700s to the present day. Petäjävesi Old Church is the best destination to experience a masterpiece of the North European log construction technique from the 18th century as well as Finnish rural life from the cradle to the grave then and now.
Journey into the Architecture of Petäjävesi Old Church
Duration: approximately 30 minutes.
This guided tour focuses specifically on the architecture of the old church. Take your group on a tour centered on the art of the old church and explore Petäjävesi’s old church as a unique architectural masterpiece of its time. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petäjävesi Old Church, is the result of remarkable woodcarving skills passed down through generations – an internationally acclaimed Finnish church blending medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. Local peasants created an artistic masterpiece, whose unique features build its immeasurable architectural value.
The Story of the Yellow Church
Duration: approximately 30 minutes.
Book a guided tour for your group to the church built in Petäjävesi in 1879. Come and hear about the colorful history of Petäjävesi Church and parish, as well as the gradual transformation of the church. At the same time, admire Finland’s most recent church art: the stunning paintings by Samuli Heimonen, completed in early 2020.
Petäjävesi’s Yellow Church tells the story of centuries-old parish traditions and changes in the local population, alongside the UNESCO church. In the 19th century, the old church had become too small for the growing congregation, which led to the construction of a new church on the opposite side of the water. The Yellow Church was given a new look in the 2020s with Samuli Heimonen’s evocative paintings.
Enhance Your Visit with Our Services
Combine your visit to Petäjävesi Old Church with, for example, dining in a cozy rural setting.
Dining at a Nearby Farm Location
Combine your group trip with a charming meal at Petäjävesi farm tourism sites. Lemettilä Farm and Farmhouse Kumpunen offer lunch, coffee, or dinner for groups with advance booking. Ask for more information from our customer service when making your reservation.
Buffet at Kyläseppä and a Stop at Heinähattu Direct Sales
Petäjävesi’s legendary Kyläseppä service station offers a buffet dining option for your group, as well as a delicious à la carte menu. Next to Kyläseppä, your group can visit the delightful Heinähattu Direct Sales store, which offers local artisans’ crafts, organic products from rural tourism companies, and a treasure-filled flea market. You can also find souvenirs from Petäjävesi Old Church there year-round. Ask for more information from our customer service when making your reservation.
Visit the Radio and Telephone Museum
History enthusiasts are treated to a visit to the Radio and Telephone Museum in Petäjävesi, whose primary mission is to preserve the history of Finnish electronic communications. The museum’s extensive collections contain over 3,700 cataloged items. The museum began with private collections from the people of Petäjävesi in 1995. The Finnish Radio History Society’s collections are also exhibited and stored here. The museum’s collection includes wartime “tear” radios, CB radios, landline phones, electron tubes, old radios, and televisions. The oldest radio on display dates back to 1921, and the oldest telephone is from the 1880s. Ask for more information from our customer service when making your reservation.
Accommodation in Petäjävesi
At the Petäjävesi farm tourism facilities, your group will stay in charming rural settings with all the comforts. Ask for more information from our customer service when making your reservation.
The over 400-year-old Kumpunen organic farm, located by the shores of Lake Kirrinjärvi, offers an unforgettable rustic and romantic atmosphere for guests, celebrations, and events throughout the year.
Lemettilä Farm is part of the world heritage area – rent a cottage near the farm or enjoy peaceful sleep in the thick-walled stone barn’s two-person room, or in the main building’s traditional barn accommodation.
Stay at Toppala holiday cottages in a scenic ridge area on the shores of Lake Jämsä. Experience a memorable time in an outdoor hot tub under the stars and relax with pampering treatments in a traditional smoke sauna.
At Loma-Ässä, wonderful holiday cottages are combined with a cozy countryside hotel.
Matka Mäkelä’s Ready-made Tours for Groups
Matka Mäkelä offers your group ready-made tour packages to Petäjävesi or to both UNESCO sites in Central Finland. Explore the options on the Matka Mäkelä website.
Three Churches Tour
Take your group to explore all three wooden churches in the Petäjävesi and Keuruu area on the same visit! Experience the fascinating 18th-century wooden churches of the region and book a guided tour for your group to explore the churches in Petäjävesi, Keuruu, and Pihlajavesi.
The price of the combined ticket is €49.00 per person. Invoicing fee €6.50 per group.
The price includes entrance tickets and guided tours in English at the sites (duration approx. 2.5 hours including transfers), lunch, and afternoon coffee. The client covers the guide’s travel expenses. The minimum group size is 20 people.
Bookings and inquiries: museo@keuruu.fi, tel. +358 40 965 5597 or opas@petajavesi.fi, tel. +358 40 582 2461.
Locations
Useful Information for Visitors
Toilet Facilities
The Old Church does not have indoor toilets, but there are dry toilets in the yard area available during the summer. One of the toilets is also accessible for wheelchair users.
Accessibility
Petäjävesi Old Church is not yet fully accessible. As the building is old, the floors are uneven and the thresholds are high. The outdoor stairs are also quite steep. Unfortunately, the wheelchair ramp at the Old Church is temporarily out of service.
The closest access to Petäjävesi Old Church is from the north side of the church via Siltatie and Vanhankirkontie. The parking lot next to the church on Vanhankirkontie is the best parking option for those with mobility challenges.
Parking
The parking lot for Petäjävesi Old Church is located along main road 23, with good signage. The parking area has space for both cars and buses, as well as picnic tables for breaks. From the parking lot, you can walk to the Old Church; the distance is about 200 meters along a walking path.
The closest parking to Petäjävesi Old Church is accessible from the north side of the church via Siltatie and Vanhankirkontie.