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Sweden's 741-ton church embarks on 3-mile journey across city in dramatic 2-day relocation

Sweden's 113-year-old Kiruna Church reaches holy ground after relocation.

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113-year-old wooden church in Sweden has been relocated to a new site, avoiding a potentially disastrous fate of being swallowed up by the ground below. The Kiruna Church, a beloved landmark and one of Sweden's largest wooden structures, was carefully moved over two days using a specially designed trailer.

    The church, which is 131 feet wide and weighs 741 tons, traveled at a glacial pace of 0.31-0.93 miles per hour along the widened Arctic road. Thousands of spectators braved the chilly temperatures to witness the historic move, which was livestreamed by Sweden's national broadcaster. The event even featured a performance by Sweden's 2025 Eurovision entry and a royal visit from the king of Sweden.

    The church's relocation is part of Kiruna's decades-long plan to relocate its town center due to concerns over the expansion of the world's largest underground ore mine beneath it. The mine, operated by LKAB, has been causing ground subsidence that threatened the structure's iconic wooden walls. Engineers spent a year widening the road to accommodate the massive church, which is now safely settled in its new location.

    The move marks the 26th building to be relocated from the old town center to the new downtown area. The church doors are scheduled to reopen at the end of 2026, after being closed for over a year to prepare for the move.

Sweden's 741-ton church relocates through city streets in dramatic 2-day journey.