Kiruna, Sweden – August 19, 2025 – The historic Kiruna Church, a cultural icon of Sweden, has commenced its monumental relocation today, August 19, 2025. This intricate engineering feat is a key component of Kiruna's extensive urban transformation, a project necessitated by the expansion of LKAB's iron ore mine, Europe's largest.
The 672-tonne church, a masterpiece of early 20th-century craftsmanship designed by Gustaf Wickman, is being carefully transported approximately five kilometers to a new site. This move is crucial to mitigate ground instability caused by ongoing mining operations. The relocation is the largest structural move to date within the ambitious urban renewal project, which has already seen 23 other buildings successfully transferred.
The operation began with a specialized 220-wheeled convoy moving at a slow pace of about half a kilometer per hour. The entire process is anticipated to conclude within two days, with the church arriving at its new location between the local cemetery and the developing new city center. Thousands of residents and visitors gathered to witness this extraordinary event, which is also being broadcast globally, showcasing this unique engineering achievement.
Kiruna Church, built between 1909 and 1912, is celebrated for its Gothic Revival exterior and interior elements inspired by Sami culture and Norwegian stave churches. In 2001, it was voted Sweden's most beautiful pre-1950 building. The church is expected to reopen at its new location by the end of 2026.
This undertaking highlights the complex challenges of urban redevelopment driven by industrial progress, emphasizing the balance between economic growth and the preservation of cultural heritage. The relocation also brings to light the broader impacts of mining on local communities, with Sami communities having expressed concerns regarding the expansion's effect on traditional reindeer herding routes.