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In an extraordinary feat of engineering, an entire church was carefully moved over half a mile in the Czech Republic to avoid being swallowed by a growing open-pit coal mine. The Church of Saint Procopius, dating back to the 13th century, was painstakingly relocated to a new foundation, preserving a vital piece of local history and a place of worship for the community. This remarkable project demonstrates a commitment to both heritage preservation and navigating the challenges of industrial expansion.
A church on rails. That’s how one could describe the remarkable journey of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Most, Czech Republic, a national cultural monument that was physically moved more than 800 meters to avoid demolition. The unusual relocation, completed in 1975, earned the church a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
October marked the 50th anniversary of the church’s arrival at its current location. The move was necessitated by the planned destruction of the old town of Most to make way for coal mining. While the demolition was a devastating loss, authorities made the decision to preserve at least one of the town’s most significant buildings.
A Testament to the City’s Wealth
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Originally built on the site of an earlier Romanesque basilica destroyed by a fire in 1515, the church is a prime example of late Gothic architecture. It was designed by Jakub Heilmann of Schweinfurt, a student of Benedikt Rejt, the architect behind the Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle and St. Barbara’s Church in Kutná Hora.
“During his training with Benedikt Rejt, Heilmann became familiar with new developments in late Gothic architecture, including the ribbed vault, which was later used in the main nave of the Most church,” explained Zuzana Klimplová, a custodian at the church from the National Heritage Institute.
The church’s elegant vaulting isn’t its only notable feature. Its unusual support system is integrated into the interior, creating a unique aesthetic. The exterior walls are relatively plain, while the interior boasts a series of chapels along each side.
Exterior and Interior Features
Foto: NPÚ, Petr Kříž
The church’s unique architecture, blending influences from the Danube region, Bohemia, and Saxony, along with its imposing size, reflects Most’s importance and prosperity during its construction.
The three-nave church also incorporates a crypt dating back to the 13th-century basilica that previously stood on the site. Construction began in 1517 and continued into the early 17th century. The gallery and choir railings are adorned with colorful Renaissance reliefs, and the tower originally featured a Renaissance design. Baroque modifications later included a redesigned sanctuary with a new altar, organ, and sculptures, as well as a separate bell tower.
Exterior and Interior Design
Foto: Michael Macků, Mapy.com
The relocation of the church took place between September 30 and October 27, 1975, after it was carefully disassembled and its tower demolished due to its unstable condition. The adjacent Baroque bell tower was also torn down and could not be saved.
“The church was reinforced with a massive steel structure and carefully secured to prevent any damage. The separation of the church from its original foundations was gradual, which is why preparatory work for the move had been underway for several years,” Klimplová explained.
Traveling along four special tracks, the 12,000-ton church moved 841 meters (approximately 2,759 feet). It was pushed from the rear and braked from the front using hydraulic cylinders. The journey took 646 hours, or 27 days, with work continuing around the clock in three shifts.
A World Record
The relocation of the church in Most, weighing approximately 12,000 tons, was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the heaviest load ever transported by rail. This was confirmed in at least the 1977 and 1988 editions of the book.
The record is no longer listed in the online Guinness World Records database, likely due to later reclassifications and broken records. The Fu Gang Building in China, weighing 15,140 tons, was later registered in the book as the heaviest structure moved in one piece in November 2004.
Currently, Guinness World Records lists the 39 Fizuli building in Baku, Azerbaijan, weighing 18,000 tons, as the heaviest building moved in one piece in April 2013.
The move was completed without any significant damage. However, the church underwent extensive repairs in the years that followed, including the construction of a replica tower made of reinforced concrete. The public was first able to visit the restored church on November 4, 1988, although restoration work continued in the interior.
Concerts, Weddings, and Services
As Klimplová notes, the relocation took place during a time when the church and religious monuments were not prioritized. “The original plan was to use the building as a museum or gallery, so there was no consideration given to returning the main altar,” she said.
After 1989, attitudes changed, and the decision was made to reinstall the altar and other original furnishings. “This paved the way for the church to be reconsecrated on June 19 and 20, 1993,” Klimplová added. Since then, it has hosted religious ceremonies, including midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
The church is managed by the National Heritage Institute and is open to the public for tours, which include a film about the relocation and a model illustrating the process. It also hosts weddings, graduations, concerts, and other events.
The Original Site
The site where the church originally stood is now a memorial space with the building’s footprint marked and a display of the tracks used for the relocation. Trees have been planted to correspond to the location of the pillars.
Original Location of the Church
The church was moved approximately 0.5 miles.
Foto: Roman Kalčík, Mapy.com
The church was moved approximately 0.5 miles.
