High North Tour 2025: Spectacular Views: Kiruna Church Moves to a New City
The historical move and lift of the old Kiruna church in the Swedish Arctic. (Video: Arne O. Holm)
Kiruna, Northern Sweden (High North News): Mining towns are a breed of their own. When the mines were empty, people moved on. In Kiruna, however, the municipality and LKAB see it differently. The city itself has relocated to make room for the iron ore mine. Yesterday, an over 100-year-old church was on the move.
A sea of people followed the centimeter-by-centimeter move of the massive building in Kiruna, Northern Sweden. On more than 120 wheels, the church in its entirety is transported about five kilometers along a specially built road that is 24 meters wide, down to the center of Kiruna.
The moving operation has been planned for eight years. The church, together with the construction that is purpose-built for transport, weighs a total of 1,200 tons.
The church's inventory has been cleared out, but the altarpiece is still inside and part of the journey.
The church will reopen to the public in 2026.
The Kiruna Church, ready to move. (Photo: Arne O. Holm)
Europe's largest iron ore producer
LKAB, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of Europe's iron ore production, warned back in 2004 that the city of Kiruna would have to be relocated if production was to continue. The ore deposit extends beneath the city, and as ore is extracted, cracks form in the surface.
The work to relocate the city center began in 2014, and the first buildings were completed in 2018. There is little resembling a mining town in the new city center. In fact, it is looking more like a miniature Manhattan. The relocation of Kiruna is one of the most spectacular urban development projects in modern times.
Many buildings have been demolished and replaced by new ones, both residences and businesses.
The fate of Kiruna Church, however, is different. It will be part of the journey.
The church was built between 1909 and 1912 and has been a symbol of the mining town for a long time. The architecture is a mixture of several styles and therefore differs from other wooden churches. The inspiration is drawn from both Norwegian stave churches and Sami lavvos.
