Naantali Church

A medieval convent church that outlasted the convent by five centuries.

The church was built in 1462 as the convent church of the Bridgettine order, and its grey stone walls still carry the solidity of that original construction. Inside, the space is simple and whitewashed, with medieval brick vaulting and a few remnants of the convent's former wealth — carved wooden figures, old epitaphs on the walls.

The church sits at the top of the old town and is open to visitors during the summer season. Services are still held here, and the acoustics are good enough that concerts take place throughout the summer. It is worth climbing the hill even if you only look at the exterior and the view back down over the harbour.

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A story
The Bridgettine convent of Nådendal was founded in 1438 and for a century was one of the most powerful religious houses in Finland, attracting pilgrims from across the region. When it was dissolved during the Reformation in 1591, the convent buildings fell to ruin — but the church survived, and has been in continuous use ever since. The bell tower was added later, giving the building a silhouette visible from the harbour.