A log cabin treated with tar. A lake is visible in the background. There are a few clouds in the sky.

The Church Huts of Utsjoki

Ecclesiastical life in Utsjoki began on the shores of Lake Mantojärvi in the early 18th century. The first church building was completed in 1701.

The current stone church in Utsjoki is the northernmost and final work of architect Carl Ludvig Engel (1778–1840), and it was built between 1850 and 1853. The vicarage, located by Lake Mantojärvi, dates back to 1843.
Church cabins were dwellings for Sámi families or clans during church services and market gatherings, as the journey home to their own settlement was long. The oldest of the existing cabins dates from the 18th century. The cabins, restored by the Finnish Heritage Agency, are small and dimly lit. A stone fireplace, known as a piisi, standing in the corner, was the only source of heat and also used for cooking.
The surrounding natural meadow is stunning in summer: the brilliant blue Arctic gentian opens its petals only on sunny days.