Finland's only medieval basilica, Turku Cathedral, is closing on Monday for an extensive, multi-year renovation effort.
In the interim, the historic church will be closed to the public. Church services that would normally be hosted there, like baptisms and weddings, will be held at other churches.
Consecrated in the year 1300, Turku Cathedral is set to open again on 2 December 2028, at the start of Advent, ahead of Turku's 800th anniversary.
The renovation work will cost an estimated 25 million euros.
According to Turku Cathedral's website, the renovation plans considered both functionality and historical preservation. It said a chief goal is transforming the buiding's under-utilised spaces into areas that can be used by the congregation.
However, it noted that the main church hall would only undergo minor modifications.
The last time Turku Cathedral underwent a major renovation was between 1976 and 1979. After the current work is complete, the cathedral is not set for a major overhaul until the 2070s, at the earliest.
