In Eglish:
Old bell tower of Ruokolahti is one of the most strangest bell towers in Finland. It was built in 1752 by Tuomas Suikkanen. Its roof is made from shingles and outside it is coated with tar.
Some people said that it is a “Beyond Carpathatic Monstrum”. Well, so-so, it is quite extraordinary, this bell tower in form of octagon.
Well, I think that my 12 photos talk better than me.
En español:
Antigua torre de campana de Ruokolahti es uno de los campanarios más extraños en Finlandia. Fue construido en 1752 por Tuomas Suikkanen. Su techo es de tablillas y fuera está cubierta con alquitrán.
Algunas personas dijeron que se trata de un “Tras de Carpathatic Monstrum”. Bueno, sea come fuere, es bastante extraordinaria este campanario en forma de octágono.
Bueno, creo que mis 12 fotos que hablan mejor que yo.
En francais:
Le vieux clocher de Ruokolahti est l’un des clochers les plus étranges en Finlande. Il a été construit en 1752 par Tuomas Suikkanen. Son toit est fait de bardeaux et à l’extérieur, il est enduit de goudron.
Certaines personnes ont dit qu’il s’agit d’un “Trans Carpathatic Monstrum”. Eh bien, quoi qu’il en soit, il est tout à fait extraordinaire ce clocher en forme d’octogone.
Eh bien, je pense que mes 12 photos parlent mieux que moi.
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Strange belltower / Campanario raro / Étrange clocher
Travels in Finland and abroad 
Bonjour Matti,
Ah ça, c’est du costaud !! Un beau specimen de construction en bois, presque un cas d’école !
Le toit est de toute beauté.
Je te souhaite un bon week-end.
Comment by Marion B. — September 9, 2011 @ 07:56 |
Salut Marion.
Oui c’est ça, un peu petit peu différente que les autres dans mon pays, comme tu le sais.
Merci beucoup d’avoir visitée.
Bon week-end á toi aussi.
Comment by sartenada — September 9, 2011 @ 10:51 |
This is really beautiful! The roof looks oriental. Combined with the log structure, that really is unusual!
Comment by kateri — September 9, 2011 @ 13:27 |
Hello Kateri.
Thank You for comment. This bell tower is unusual even in Finland and it quite well known.
Happy week-end!
Comment by sartenada — September 9, 2011 @ 13:33 |
Bonjour Sartenada, Il est superbe, ce clocher… même s’il est enduit de goudron. 😉
Comment by annejutras — September 9, 2011 @ 13:31 |
Salut Anne.
Tu le sais que le goudron est le meilleur traitement pour les matériaux en bois. La Finlande a exporté de goudron déjà vers l’Europe pendant les années 1800. Aucun des préservatif de protection actuels n’est pas en mesure de rivaliser avec le goudron, c’est sûr!!! Tar est plus commune dans nos églises, et la meilleure protection.
Je te souhaite un agréable weekend!
Comment by sartenada — September 9, 2011 @ 13:42 |
While the bell tower may be unusual, it is still very beautiful. I like the designs made by the shingles on the roof, and the tar really brings out the texture of the wood. Your pictures are wonderful.
Comment by George — September 9, 2011 @ 15:05 |
Hello George.
Bell tower in form of octagon is rare here. Shingles and tar make it together different looking and maybe interesting also.
Thank You. Have a lovely day!
Comment by sartenada — September 9, 2011 @ 15:42 |
This is just an amazing structure. The patterns of the shingles is beautiful. So is the precise hewing of the log ends so they fit so perfectly together, all done with hand tools. And your photo of the end of the log would be a great entry for this week’s photo challenge theme – texture.
Happy weekend!
Janet
Comment by harpingjanet — September 9, 2011 @ 22:47 |
Hi Janet.
I am so glad that You liked this bell tower and found so many nice things to say from it.
Happy Saturday!
Comment by sartenada — September 10, 2011 @ 07:18 |
Lovely photos…such an unusual structure, it is very eye catching,
Happy weekend Matti
Comment by convictstock — September 10, 2011 @ 00:50 |
Hi Convictstock.
Thank You. Isn’t it wonderful that on our planet we have so many different things to be found?
Happy week-end!
Comment by sartenada — September 10, 2011 @ 07:21 |
It’s a fascinating structure, Matti! It has a bit of an early Chinese look to it with a touch of middle east. I’d love to know what the builder had in mind and what exactly influenced him. Whatever it was he created something of beauty.
Comment by montucky — September 10, 2011 @ 05:45 |
Hello Montucky.
Yes, You are right that has a small resemblance with Chinese Pagoda. It must coincidence, because in 1752, the architect had hardly slightest idea from China. Thank You commenting.
Happy Week-end!
Comment by sartenada — September 10, 2011 @ 07:26 |
Guten Tag Matti,
The bell tower looks like a pyramid. The architecture was amazing. In the closeups you can see any wood structure. The environment provides a harmonious impression. All photos are very interesting and beautiful. The new design of your blog, I also like very well. Thank you for allowing me to visit this site again. We wish you and Anya, a beautiful sunny Sunday, good luck and health to your daily routes. Liebe Grüße von Christel, Detlev und Ranger
Comment by Christel — September 11, 2011 @ 15:03 |
Hallo Christel.
Thank You very much for Your visit and comment. I found a new design indeed which adapts to different screen sizes. It is important, that even on smaller screens my photos could be seen well.
Einen sonntäglichen Gruß.
Comment by sartenada — September 11, 2011 @ 16:03 |
Bonjour, tes photos sont superbes et les églises tellement différentes les unes des autres, j’en ai vu aussi pas mal car j’arrive de Norvège et là-bas elles sont très différentes de celles de France. C’est bien que partout ce soit différent.
Bonne journée à toi.
Comment by sylvie (anjou) — September 12, 2011 @ 12:08 |
Salut Sylvie.
Bien dit, parce que les églises en Finlande, en Suède et en Norvège, elles diffèrent vraiment de celles d’Europe centrale. Où as tu visitée en Norvège, parce que j’ai aussi fait une visit là-bas cet été?
Belle journée!
Comment by sartenada — September 12, 2011 @ 15:03 |
The architecture is very special… This is really interesting. A great series without any doubt ! Have a lovely day Matti 🙂
Comment by Tamara — September 12, 2011 @ 12:44 |
Hello Tamara.
Thank You. I am very glad, if You found this bell tower interesting.
Have a wonderful day!
Comment by sartenada — September 12, 2011 @ 15:05 |
Not only an intriguing and well-built building, belltower, crafted very creatively! I love the roof… the shingling design. Great photo series. 🙂
Comment by Anna — September 12, 2011 @ 15:47 |
Hi Anna.
Thank You praising my series of photos from this bell tower.
Happy Monday!
Comment by sartenada — September 12, 2011 @ 16:06 |
What an interesting design!
I have never seen anything like this before.
I particular like the burnt timbers used at the bottom.
Like you said, it’s indeed very strange!
But also very interesting.
It surely stands out in the snow in the winter.
Comment by London Caller — September 12, 2011 @ 19:19 |
Hello London Caller.
Thank You commenting. Tar has been used centuries in ships that they do not get damp. Autumn lasts long time with rain and it is important that the wood itself is protected by tar and is dry. Normally here we speak from tar made from pine. After autumn, winter is hard for wood. Snow and ice are another menace for wood. Tar has been used also for medical purposes. We have a saying: “If Sauna is not helping in disease nor tar or spirit, so then the disease is for death” (my free translation from Finnish). As You see there are three important elements; Sauna, tar and sprit. They really reflect the culture, habits and customs of our people. 🙂
Happy Tuesday!
Comment by sartenada — September 13, 2011 @ 07:20 |
Matti, this is a very special and very beautiful old building you show us here, and the craftsmanship is fantastic done!
Comment by truels — September 12, 2011 @ 23:22 |
Hi Truels.
I am so glad that You too found this special and made Your comment here. Thank You.
Comment by sartenada — September 13, 2011 @ 07:21 |
Someone must’ve had a lot… and I do mean a lot… of time on their hands during the wintertime!
The patterns make me think the person was mathematically gifted… as in, wow!
Many quesiions come to mind…
How long did the bell tower take to construct? Did Ruokolahti have help? Why those patterns? What tools were used?
On and on.
Fascinating!
It absolutely reminds me of Native American crafts… but on an enormous level, of course.
As you said, definitely extraordinary. And so impervious to the elements!
Comment by Deli Lanoux, Ed.D. — September 14, 2011 @ 20:44 |
Hello Deli.
Thank You for Your visit and comment. To give the answer to Your question is quite “impossible”. I checked in Internet about 30 pages and even our National Board of Antiquities could not give answer in their pages. So sorry. The only more exact info I found, is that bell tower was planned by intendant Ernst Lohrman in 1852 and it was built under the surveillance of building master Theodor Johan Tolppo. Finally it was completed in 1854.
Ernst Bernhard Lohrmann lived from 1803 to 1870. He is famous church architect and he drew drawings for 18 churches in Finland. After his death two more churches were built according to his drawings. I have photographed few of his churches. So ,he was very active. and did not sit his hand on cheek all the time. 🙂
This is not sure, but I suppose that in those days there some groups of professionals church builders “toured” around in Finland and they built churches here and there, probably local people assisted the construction. Maybe wood was taken from nearby forests.
Comment by sartenada — September 15, 2011 @ 07:11 |
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Quite impressive stuff!!!
And you’re so very funny, too.
Comment by Deli Lanoux, Ed.D. — September 15, 2011 @ 17:53 |
Wow – this is a superb wooden clock tower. Just beautiful!
Comment by ladyfi — September 15, 2011 @ 18:35 |
Hello Ladyfi.
So nice to read Your comment that You love this bell tower. Thank You.
Happy Friday!
Comment by sartenada — September 16, 2011 @ 06:33 |
Le goudron est connu pour protéger le bois. Avant on en enduisait les poteaux de téléphone et autres.
Comment by hpy — October 5, 2011 @ 08:11 |
Bonjour hpy.
Oui c’est ça. Tu as raison. Merci de m’avoir fait un commentaire.
Belle journée!
Comment by sartenada — October 5, 2011 @ 08:51 |
Very interesting construction, such a bell tower. It more or less resembles to the structure of a Ukrainian wooden church, like I have seen in Curitiba.
Maybe tar is also a solution for the Brazilian churches, but… what to do with the tropical conditions? I have no idea if tar may have some negative impact when it is heated under tropical conditions and intense sunlight.
Comment by eyebrazil — October 13, 2011 @ 17:27 |
Hi Eyebrazil.
Thank You commenting. Well, Of course tar has or may have problems in the tropics, but I am sure that it has not been tested. Our climate varies from max +34 °Celsius to – 45 °Celsius. Then we have sunshine, rain, snow and ice. It has been “tested” on our roofs of churches and when shingles are changed after been in use about 50 years, then also new treatment with tar. If in the tropics You have heavy sunshine, we have plenty of cold, snow and ice. 🙂
Comment by sartenada — October 14, 2011 @ 06:35 |
This is lovely! What a fun bell tower. Do you know if it’s still in use?
Comment by Emily — November 7, 2018 @ 16:39 |
Hello Emily.
I think that not, but not sure, because there is a church and another Bell Tower if I remember correct. It is Perkkaanpuisto as You supposed. There is near a small creek, but now it is difficult to see now, because a fence prevents going to see it. I know the walking path, I think, because we walked it and back using a bigger walking / cycling path to Sello. There is near a new car parking house and we have there a place for our car.
Mstti
Comment by Sartenada — November 7, 2018 @ 16:57 |