Hartikka Church Yard

Hartikka Church Yard is the site where the first church of Laukaa was built between 1589 and 1591. The church was constructed on the eastern slope of a naturally beautiful ridge beside the calm waters of Kirkkolahti Bay. It was taken into use in 1593, which is also considered the founding year of both the Municipality of Laukaa and the Laukaa parish.

For centuries, churchgoers mainly traveled to this wilderness church by water, even into the early 20th century. During summer, people rowed to the church in traditional church boats, while in winter they traveled by horse along routes across the frozen lake ice.