Key Facts
• Relocation of Kiruna Church began on August 19, 2025.
• The church, built in 1912, weighs over 600 tons.
• It is one of Sweden’s largest wooden structures.
• The church is being moved 5 kilometers over two days.
• Transport speed is 500 meters per hour using trailers.
• Kiruna Church was once named Sweden’s most beautiful building.
• Relocation is part of a citywide plan due to mining-related subsidence risks.
• The plan includes moving 3,000 homes and demolishing city hall.
• The entire relocation project is expected to finish by 2035.
Summary
Kiruna Church, a historic wooden structure built in 1912 and recognized as Sweden’s most beautiful building, is being relocated due to ground subsidence risks caused by extensive mining. The 600-ton church is being transported 5 kilometers at a speed of 500 meters per hour, a process expected to take two days. This move is part of a larger city relocation project, which began in 2004 and includes the demolition or relocation of 3,000 homes and other key structures. The project is anticipated to be completed by 2035.
