Utsjoen kirkkotuvat

About the museum

The Utsjoki Church Cottages are an open-air museum on the western shore of Lake Mantojärvi, near Utsjoki church and parsonage. The site has 14 restored church cottages, some of which date from the 18th century. The cottages were owned by Sámi families, and people spent the night in them during the great church festivals. About twenty cottages once stood here, and they were in use until the mid-1940s.

The church cottages are located in the church landscape of Utsjoki, which the National Board of Antiquities has designated as a nationally significant built cultural environment. The old Saint Ulrika's church was used until the 1850s, and its sacristy still stands. The present stone church is built of local granite, and the parsonage, designed by C. L. Engel, dates from the 1840s.

In summer the cottages can be visited with a guide, and in one of them the local craft association's Šiella craft shop operates. The 2.3-kilometre Ulrikan polku (Ulrika Trail) starts from the site.

Highlights

• 14 restored church cottages, some from the 18th century
• Open-air museum on the shore of Lake Mantojärvi
• Guided visits in summer
• Šiella craft shop
• Ulrikan polku (Ulrika Trail), 2.3 km

Permanent exhibition

• Kirkkotupien ulkomuseo – The open-air museum has 14 restored Sámi church cottages, which were used for overnight stays during church festivals.

Operated by

Utsjoen kirkkotupayhdistys

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

There is no fixed admission fee; visitors are asked to make a voluntary donation to the Utsjoen kirkkotupayhdistys (Utsjoki Church Cottage Association).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The path from the church to the cemetery is accessible. The ascent up the church embankment is steep and its edges are high, so it is not accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The church cottages are located on both sides of main road 4, about 5 km from the village of Utsjoki in the direction of Inari. Information boards are at the cottages and at the lower car park of Utsjoki church.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

In summer the Šiella craft shop operates in one of the cottages, and waffles are sold in summer in support of the parish's mission work.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit