The park's nickname, Ruttopuisto (Plague Park), refers to the mass graves of 1710 plague victims located here.
The wooden Old Church within the park was intended to be a temporary structure but remains in use today.
It is the oldest surviving public park in Helsinki.
The park contains memorial monuments dedicated to Finnish soldiers who died during the 1918 Finnish Civil War.
Many of the original gravestones were moved or repurposed when the area was converted into a public park.
Old Church Park, known locally as Ruttopuisto or 'Plague Park', is a tranquil green space in central Helsinki occupying a former 18th-century graveyard. The site centers around the Neoclassical Old Church, designed by architect Carl Ludvig Engel and completed in 1826. Many of the gravestones remaining in the park date back to the early 19th century, predating the 1829 closure of the site for burials. It serves as a popular urban retreat, surrounded by dense city blocks and historic buildings. The park retains a somber, respectful atmosphere due to its history as a burial ground for those who perished during the 1710 plague epidemic. It is one of the few surviving historical cemeteries integrated into the modern city center.
The path facing the Old Church facade, capturing the building framed by mature linden trees.
Visit during the early morning for maximum quiet, as it is a popular lunch spot for local office workers.
Respect the remaining gravestones and avoid sitting on or near them.
The park is best navigated on foot as it is relatively compact.
Do not treat the gravestones as seating or picnic furniture.
Maintain a quiet volume; respect the site's history as a former cemetery.
