Sweden’s 113-Year-Old Kiruna Church to Be Moved 5km to New City Centre
A 113-year-old wooden church in Kiruna, threatened by mining subsidence, will be transported 5km to the new city centre using giant rolling platforms in a historic engineering feat.
Historic Church Faces Unprecedented Move
A landmark wooden church in Kiruna, northern Sweden, built in 1912, is set to be relocated 5km (3 miles) to the new city centre due to ground subsidence caused by iron ore mining. The move, at a maximum speed of 500 meters per hour, is expected to span two days.
Engineering Feat on Giant Rollers
Supported by steel beams and self-propelled modular transporters, the 672-tonne, 35m-high and 40m-wide church has been lifted onto giant rolling platforms. Project manager Stefan Holmblad Johansson emphasizes meticulous preparation: the route has been widened to 24m, and obstacles such as lampposts, traffic lights and a bridge have been removed.
Protecting Priceless Heritage
Inside, the church’s great altar painting by Prince Eugen remains glued to its masonry wall and will be fully covered and stabilised during the move, alongside the organ with its 1,000 pipes.
Community and Cultural Significance
For residents, this is more than an engineering marvel: the church has been a spiritual and social hub for generations. Culture strategist Sofia Lagerlöf Määttä reflects on shared memories of joy and sorrow, now moving with the building. Vicar Lena Tjärnberg describes the relocation as bittersweet, leaving the original site despite understanding the necessity.
Funding and Legal Safeguards
LKAB, the iron ore mining company driving Kiruna’s relocation, is covering over 10 billion Swedish krona ($1 billion) in costs. Swedish law prohibits mining under buildings to protect infrastructure and safety.
The move of Kiruna’s wooden church highlights a unique blend of engineering innovation and community resilience as heritage adapts to modern challenges.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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