A 113-year-old church in Kiruna, Sweden, has been relocated three miles away from its original site due to mining activities that weakened the ground beneath it. The church, a beloved cultural institution, was moved on wheels, with an unusual road trip broadcast live on Swedish television.
The city’s entire old center has been relocated since 2004 as iron ore mining operations expanded, posing a risk to the historic buildings. The church, Kiruna Kyrka, was one of the most significant challenges due to its protected status and cultural importance.
To move the delicate structure, engineers used beams and jacks to lift it off its concrete foundation, then placed it on two long wheeled trailers. The road along its route was widened to accommodate its width, and a viaduct was demolished.
The relocation has become a spectacle, with crowds gathering to watch the church’s slow journey through the city. Thousands watched live streams of the event broadcast on Swedish television and online. A multiday celebration is planned for the new location, including performances by famous acts and a visit from Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf.
However, some Indigenous Sami people have expressed concerns that the mining activity has harmed their culture and way of life, displacing their reindeer herding and encroaching on their living areas. The church’s move is seen as a symbol of which culture is considered most valuable by the state.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/world/europe/sweden-church-kiruna-move.html