Historical Church of Finland: Inari’s Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church

The Pielpajärvi wilderness church is known for its great cultural and historical significance to its people. Today, the wilderness church conducts special services during Easter and the Midsummer's festival as well as considered as a popular site for weddings.

According to National Parks, in ancient times, there was a winter village in Inari, which is located by the shore of this wilderness lake and people would gather to stay for the winter months. A church was then built in the winter village in 1760 and is known as one of the oldest buildings in northern Lapland. The reddish church was made on a stone field lined with a beautiful birch wood. And a natural-state meadow grows on the church grounds.

The wilderness church of Pielpajärvi is the second known church in this very spot since  all of the remains of the first church in 1646 have disappeared. The only ones remained are the decaying foundations of a few buildings from the winter village.

The Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church and the surrounding regions of the village serve as nationally valuable cultural heritage area for Finns and has also been recognized as a regionally valuable landscape area of Inari. The Inari inhabitants also conduct the service at Pielpajärvi during Midsummer. The Easter service is also organized at the Pielpajärvi Church and it is also considered as popular church for weddings.

Travelers can reach the Pielpajärvi through hiking or by riding a boat. As claimed by Inari Saariselka, the 5km hiking path begins at a few kilometers from Siida. And  from the church, the journey continues on towards the Pielpavuono fjord, which can be travelled for a few kilometers away. On request by some guests, the Inarilake boat cruises can have a stopover near Pielpavuono, from which visitors can return to Inari on by taking a hike.

The 5 km trail also leads to a scenic forest to the church from the Sarviniementie parking area and a campfire site usually awaits the tourists about halfway of the trail Pikku Pielpajärvi. But that's not it, the trail goes on to an open meadow and stone field where the church is situated. Travelers also love how the Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church boasts nature as it is surrounded by birch trees, as mentioned in Life In Lapland.

Another campfire site next to the church on the shores of Iso Pielpajärvi  also welcomes the guests. The church is very open to the public who wants to hike through the paths going to the wilderness church. They can actually visit the church anytime of the year and what's even better is that it will require no single scent for a fee.

Meanwhile, because the wilderness church is still recognized for its cultural and historical background, it is now known as a relic protected by law. To date, the Easter service and the service at Pielpajärvi during Midsummer still continue. The church is also still considered as a famed wedding location for couples.