Gereja Blenduk is one of the oldest churches in Semarang, Central Java. This place was originally built in 1753 by Portuguese and was initially a simple building with a Javanese stilts house with a roof that matched Javanese architecture. The name “Blenduk” is a Javanese word meaning “dome” or “bulging”, which refers to the church’s most prominent architectural feature: its large, copper-coated dome. Gereja Blenduk’s architecture is a blend of Neoclassical and Baroque styles. The building has an octagonal or eight-sided plan, which, according to one theory, symbolizes the eight points of the compass. Inside the church, maintaining the classic European styles. Gereja Blenduk is not for worship only, but also a cultural heritage site and popular tourist attractions. It is located in Kota Lama, surrounded by colonial-era buildings.

Information and Activity in Gereja Blenduk

Since Gereja Blenduk is not far away from Kota Lama Semarang, the activities and informations are also quite similar with Kota Lama Semarang. The Church is open daily, and it starts from around 8.00 AM to 3.00 PM. In this place a note must be taken that public access may be restricted during worship  service. Here, there is often no official ticket price, but if the visitors want to give a small donation it is helped for the church’s maintenance. Here are the activities that can be done in Gereja Blenduk:

• Architectural Photography
  Capturing the beauty of Gereja Blenduk’s Neoclassical-Baroque style is a must for any photographer. The church’s famous dome and front are best photographed from many spots, with Taman Srigunting park right next door being a great place to get the perfect picture.

• Spending Time Enjoying Taman Srigunting
  Taman Srigunting is located directly in front of the church and it is a popular public space. It is a right place to relax, enjoying the park of Srigunting and the best place to get the best view of Gereja Blenduk.

• Exploring Kota Lama
  Gereja Blenduk is a central point in Semarang’s Old Town Here, the visitors can easily access other colonial era buildings, museums, and also cafes.

• Worship and Spiritual
  As an active Church, Gereja Blenduk also holds regular services, primarily on Sundays. Worshippers and the visitors who want to do spiritual things can attend these services.

Facilities and Services

Gereja Blenduk also offers services and facilities that are available for the visitors. Here are the facilities that Gereja Blenduk offers:

1. Parking Area
2. Restroom
3. Multifunction Room
4. Historical Buildings.

Besides facilities, here are the services that Gereja Blenduk offers:

1. Gereja Blenduk’s Tour
2. Information Center
3. Regular Service
4. Special Worship

How To get There

Gereja Blenduk is located in Letjen Suprapto Street, No. 32. Semarang City, Central Java. If the visitors want to visit this place, there are many options for you to get to this place. Here are the options for you:

• BRT
  For visitors who want to go to Lawang Sewu using public transportation, there is a bus called Trans Semarang. If you are from Poncol or Tawang Station you can walk to Gereja Blenduk because the place is quite near from your station or you can get on the bus in the coridor four as its route to Cangkiran. The bus will take you off to Balaikota bus stop, then you can take a walk around 100 meters from Balaikota. 

• Self Driving
  If you choose to drive, renting a car or scooter from local providers is a great option. The visitors only need to open the maps and set the route to Gereja Blenduk. There is lots of parking accessible, so you don’t need to worry about it. The parking price starts at IDR 3,000. Since the route to the area is sufficiently wide and paved. Nonetheless, both private automobiles and public transportation can easily reach it.