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The relocation is part of a much larger effort to move the entire town of Kiruna to accommodate the expansion of Europe’s largest underground iron ore mine.
The church’s belltower, which stands separately, is expected to be relocated next week (Image: AFP)
Kiruna Kyrka, a historic wooden church and architectural landmark in Sweden’s Arctic north, was successfully relocated to a new site on Wednesday. The move involved transporting the church five kilometres across the town of Kiruna and took nearly two days to complete, according to AFP. The church’s bell tower, which stands separately, is expected to be relocated next week.
The relocation is part of a much larger effort to move the entire town of Kiruna to accommodate the expansion of Europe’s largest underground iron ore mine. The LKAB mine, operated by the state-owned mining company of the same name, has caused ground instability due to extensive deep drilling, necessitating the relocation of buildings, infrastructure, and homes.
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Dating back to 1912, the red wooden church weighs approximately 672 tonnes. The move began on Tuesday, with the structure placed atop two remote-controlled flatbed trailers, which crept forward at a slow pace of half a kilometre per hour. Despite the technical challenge of navigating narrow passages and 90-degree turns, officials reported the journey went smoothly for the 1,200-tonne convoy. Large crowds gathered to witness the event.
🇸🇪 VIDEO: Historic Swedish church on the move in logistical featWeighing 672 tonnes and more than a century old, the red wooden Lutheran church of Kiruna isn’t what you’d expect to find rolling down the road. But that’s exactly what the building is doing, with crowds turning… pic.twitter.com/t566D5EauR
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 20, 2025
The relocation of the church was accompanied by celebrations, including a town-organised fanfare. Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf attended the event as the main guest, and was seen speaking with Sebastian Druker, the operator who controlled the movement of the trailers remotely using a joystick.
According to LKAB, the new location for the church was “chosen with great care to preserve its character and connection to the surroundings.” The company stated that the relocation aimed to form a “cohesive whole”, with other historic buildings also being moved. LKAB confirmed that 23 cultural heritage buildings had already been relocated ahead of the church. A symbolic decision was made to rotate the church 180 degrees at its new site, allowing the altar to face west. “The building has been rotated 180 degrees, meaning that the altar now faces west – a symbolic choice that opens the church towards the city and its residents,” the company said.
To support the transition, LKAB has offered to compensate affected residents financially or reconstruct their homes and properties. However, not everyone has welcomed the expansion. Environmental activists have voiced strong concerns, arguing that mining operations are damaging the region’s forests and lakes, and disrupting the traditional Sami reindeer herding practices.
In 2023, LKAB announced the discovery of Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earth elements adjacent to the Kiruna mine, further intensifying mining activities in the region. The relocation of Kiruna Kyrka alone is estimated to have cost LKAB around 500 million kronor (approximately $52 million). To ensure the church’s safety during the move, its handblown glass windows were carefully removed and temporarily replaced with painted plywood.
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A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
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