Saha chapel (15th cent.)
The chapel in Saha used to be one of the oldest ecclesiastical centres of Rävala Maakond (Rävala Shire). Originally, Saha Church was made of wood, it was burnt down around 1223.
Four cult stones with small hollows dating from the 1st millennium BC, located close to the chapel indicate that it had been an ancient cult place. The current chapel was built by builders from Tallinn in the second quarter of the 15th century.
Structurally, the chapel bears striking similarities to Pirita Klooster (The covent of Saint Bridget in Pirita). This simple double-vaulted parallelogram-shaped buiding is slightly asymetrical. Several construction details, like very high placed windows, a corner tower, a high gable roof etc., show that in addition to serving as the house of god, the Chapel had other functions as well. In case of necessity it could become a fortified stronghold protecting against enemy attacks, a resting place for pilgrims or a storage room for merchants.
It was badly damaged during the Great Northern War and was restored as recently as 1962-1969.
According to the legend, the buiding of the chapel was not advancing at all - the wall that had been erected during the day crumbled at night. As a last resort, the builders set watchmen to guard the chapel at night, and the evildoers were caught. A local villager and his two sons had taken a disliking to the idea of building a chapel on the site of an ancient cult-place, and had been tearing down the walls during the cover of the night. The punishment given was severe : they were immured in the selfsame chapel ; impressions of their heads can still be seen beside the chapel door.
