Oura Church

In December 1864, the construction of the Church of Oura was completed in Nagasaki. This is a Roman Catholic temple, which is also called the Church of 26 Japanese martyrs.

This building combines Baroque and neo-Gothic styles and is one of the National Treasures of Japan. The snow-white structure has a triangular roof on which a tower with a cross rises. The plan of appearance and decoration was developed by Louis Fouret, a French architect, and the architect Koyama Hidenosin built Oura.

In front of the temple is the hill of Nishizaka. In 1597, 26 Japanese Christians were crucified on it. The church is endowed with wooden structures, an inscription on the wall “Martyrdom of 26 Saints” and windows made of colored glass. In memory of the Christians from Japan killed in 1637-1638 during the uprising in Simabara, a marble white statue of Our Lady was installed at the entrance.

In the courtyard of the church, a bronze bas-relief was installed. Its history is connected with a group of peasants from Urakami who secretly kept their faith despite all the persecution from the authorities.