Key Facts
• A 672-ton church in Kiruna, Sweden, was relocated on August 19-20, 2025.
• The church, built 113 years ago, is known for its triangular roof design.
• It was once voted Sweden’s ‘most beautiful building.’
• The relocation covered a distance of approximately 5 kilometers.
• The church was moved using a custom platform with multiple tires at 1 km/h.
• Kiruna sits above one of the world’s largest iron ore mines.
• Decades of mining have caused ground subsidence risks in the area.
• A 20-year project is underway to relocate the town’s center to a safer location.
• Residents expressed mixed emotions, from sadness to awe at the engineering feat.
• The church reached its new site on August 20, with foundation work pending.
Summary
In Kiruna, Sweden, a 113-year-old, 672-ton church was relocated 5 kilometers to a safer location due to ground subsidence risks caused by extensive mining. The move, part of a 20-year project to shift the town’s center, was completed on August 20, 2025, using a custom platform traveling at 1 km/h. Residents expressed both sadness at losing a familiar landmark and admiration for the engineering achievement. The church, once named Sweden’s most beautiful building, will undergo further foundation work at its new site.
