Sights of Uppsala - what to see. A complete guide to iconic places. Uppsala - provincial old town of Sweden Uppsala city in Sweden attractions
The Swedish city of Uppsala is not very famous and popular as tourist centre, it is not flooded with crowds of guests from different countries peace. However, people who have already visited here were able to appreciate its ancient churches and cathedrals, feel the real atmosphere of the Middle Ages by visiting the Old Town, and enjoy the greenery of local squares and parks. This modest town seems to be hiding in the shadow of the huge and noisy Stockholm, but in itself it is the most important historical and cultural value of the state.
Uppsala is located 71 km from the capital of Sweden on both banks of the Fyris River, so getting to it from Stockholm is not a problem. In addition, Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is located 35 km from the city. Uppsala consists of two parts: old and new. The old town is an ancient architectural monument from the Middle Ages, protected by the state, so the whole life of the city takes place in its new part.
This quiet and peaceful town is one of the oldest in Sweden. The first mentions of it date back to the 5th century, when the first buildings began to be built here. Like any city of that time, Uppsala developed through trade. But by the beginning of the 13th century, its main center had moved slightly downstream of the Furis, where it was founded new town, called Eastern Aros.
Uppsala gradually began to acquire the importance of the church center of medieval Sweden. In the 10th century the first christian temple on the site of a pagan temple. In 1164 it became the seat of the Swedish archbishop. Over the next two centuries, temples and churches were actively built here, building material for which clay was mainly used.
A fire that occurred in 1245 practically destroyed the city to the ground. What remains from it are burial mounds from the pagan period and a church built in the 13th century that have survived to this day. The legal successor of the burnt city was East Aros, which inherited both the name and status of Uppsala. In 1273, the residence of the archbishop was moved here, and coronations of Swedish monarchs took place here until the beginning of the 18th century. In fact, until 1523, Uppsala was the capital of the Kingdom of Sweden.
Uppsala also played an important role during the Reformation. It was here that the historically important Synod of the Swedish Church took place, at which Lutheran literature became mandatory for the entire country. In 1593, a decision was made here to reform the Swedish Church and its transition to the Lutheran religion.
While remaining the religious center of Sweden, Uppsala has not lost its commercial significance. Fairs were held here, bringing together traders and merchants from all over the country and neighboring states. In the twentieth century, industrial production began to develop rapidly in the city, in particular mechanical engineering, printing, and pharmaceuticals. Currently, the headquarters and offices of Pfizer, Advanced Medical Optics, MySQL AB General Electric, and Phadia are located here. Lindvalls kaffe, famous in Sweden, is also produced here.
Undoubtedly, such a rich and interesting history of Uppsala could not but leave its mark on the architecture. The city has many unique historical monuments, preserved from the times of the Vikings and the Middle Ages.
One of the most famous attractions of the city is Cathedral- the most old church Sweden. This brightest representative of the Gothic style in architecture was built over almost two centuries and was opened in 1435. Its significance in the history of the state is difficult to overestimate. It was here that the archbishop's church was located, and here the coronation ceremonies of royalty took place. The cathedral contains a shrine revered by all Swedes - the tomb of St. Eric. Many kings, like Gustav Vasa and Johan II, and famous scientists and historical figures, like Carl Linnaeus and Emmanuel Swedenborg, are buried here.
Next to the Cathedral is the Church of the Holy Trinity, which is the parish church for local residents. Its age is more than 6 centuries. In addition, the religious monuments of the city are the Old Uppsala Church, the churches of Erentuna, Funbo, Björklinge, located both on the territory of Uppsala and in its suburbs. Each of them has its own interesting story, architecture and beautiful interior decoration with ancient frescoes, icons and gilded chandeliers.
Uppsala Castle, dating back to the mid-16th century, also witnessed many historical events in the life of the Kingdom of Sweden, such as the coronation of Gustav II Adolf and the abdication of Queen Christina. The castle was restored several times, the last restoration was completed in 1994. From now on, the local church, State Hall, and museum are open to the public. wax figures and the Uppsala Art Museum.
The famous botanist Carl Linnaeus made a significant contribution to the cultural and scientific development of Uppsala. His estate, now a museum, is located 13 km from the city. In front of its entrance there is a small botanical garden, and inside the building there is a flower greenhouse. However, Linnaeus's greatest contribution was to the creation of the gardens, which were later named after him. The professor conducted his scientific experiments in these gardens. After his death, the students reorganized them, arranging the plants according to the project created by Linnaeus. Currently, about 1,300 species of flora grow in the gardens.
The surrounding area of Uppsala is also of considerable historical value for the country. So Haga Hill or King Bjorn's Mound served as a burial place during the Bronze Age. Various weapons and household items were discovered here, which were placed in the graves of the nobility of that time. The Mora Stones bear witness to the election of the Swedish kings who reigned in the 13th-16th centuries. It was in this place that they took the oath of allegiance to their vassals.
Being a stronghold of Christianity in Sweden, Uppsala is also one of the largest scientific centers in the state. Medical and biochemical research is actively carried out here, and a number of higher educational institutions operate here. The most famous among them is, of course, Uppsala University, founded in 1477 by Bishop Jakob Ulfsson. It was the first university opened at that time in Scandinavia. In 1515 it was closed, but after the synod held in 1593, it resumed its work. Carl Linnaeus and many other prominent scientists conducted their research here. It is enough just to mention that 6 Nobel laureates came out of the walls of this educational institution, mainly in the field of chemistry and physics. Now there are 7 faculties here, where more than 30 thousand students study.
It is also worth noting that the university is the custodian of a whole treasury of historical documents, which are located in the Carolina Rediviva Library. This is the most extensive library in the country, containing four thousand million manuscripts and volumes, including a map of Mexico drawn up in 1555, Mozart's scores and medieval manuscripts. But the greatest value of the library is the Silver Bible, translated by the Goths in the 6th century.
The Gustavianium Museum, also located on the territory of the university, is of no less historical and scientific value. Here visitors can get acquainted with the university collections and an exhibition of northern antiques.
Seeing these sights, as well as enjoying the green landscape of Uppsala, of course, better in summer or at the end of spring. From May to September, the weather here is mostly dry, cool, the temperature ranges from +10 to +17 C. Autumn comes quite early, and winter lasts somewhere until mid-April. There are almost no severe frosts, but temperatures can drop to -14 C, especially in the northern part of the city. At the same time, the climate is quite mild, transitional from continental to maritime.
Guests of the city of Uppsala are presented with hotels of different star levels and different types, from family to business hotels, located both on the outskirts of the city and in its center. Tourists have the opportunity to choose hotels with spas, fitness centers, swimming pools and expensive restaurants.
Sights of Uppsala
The city center is conventionally divided into two parts: to the west of the Furison River there is a predominantly church-academic area, and almost all the attractions are concentrated here; to the east of the river is the town hall, administration and business center of the city.
Uppsala Cathedral
On the right bank of the river stands the cathedral, consecrated in 1435. The temple was badly damaged by numerous fires. The original medieval style of the cathedral has been preserved only in the brickwork of the walls. Both western towers were rebuilt after 1702, and in 1745 all the cathedral towers received new roofs. After the unsuccessful reconstruction of the cathedral during the era of historicism (1880) an attempt was made to restore it to its original appearance. Today, Uppsala Cathedral represents a mixture of different architectural styles. Until the 18th century Swedish monarchs were crowned in the cathedral; Today the Archbishop of Sweden conducts the service here. Many great men of Sweden are buried in the cathedral: Gustav Vasa - the tombstone was made in the Netherlands (1576) . Near the apse of the altar stands a gilded sarcophagus (1577) with the remains of King Eric the Saint. At the entrance to the church on the left, Carl Linnaeus is buried. On his tombstone is the inscription: “To Carl Linnaeus, Prince of Botanists.” Bishop Nathan Söderblom and philosopher Emmanuel Swedenborg found eternal rest in the cathedral. Opening hours: daily. 8.00-18.00. In the northern façade tower there is a cathedral museum. Opening hours: Mon.-Sat. 10.00-17.00, Sun. 12.30-17.00.
University
Uppsala University was founded in 1477 by Archbishop Jacob Ulvsson of Sweden and Sture the Elder; later King Gustav Adolf invested all his personal funds into the development of the university. One of the most famous citizens of Uppsala - Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) , the creator of a unified system of flora and fauna, who laid the foundations of modern binomial nomenclature, which is still in effect today. You can also name some other graduates of Uppsala University: mathematician and physicist Anders Celsius, writer and playwright August Strindberg, writer Per Lagerkvist - Nobel Prize laureate in literature (1951) , UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld - Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1961) and naturalist, the “father” of ichthyology, Peter Artedi.
Gustavianum
A few steps from the cathedral is the domed building of the Gustavianum (Gustavianum). It housed the Museum of Northern Antiquities, the Victoria Museum with Egyptian and Greek antiquities, and one of the first anatomical theaters in Europe, where students could watch specialists work at a dissecting table.
University Library
Between the university and the castle stands the majestic building of the university library. (Carolina Rediviva). The holdings of the country's largest library number over 5 million volumes. This is the largest library in the country.
The famous “Silver Codex” is displayed in a special exhibition hall of the library. ("Codex Argenteus")- gospel in Gothic (VI century), it owes its name to a silver setting made in the 17th century. The library houses another rarity - the manuscript of the Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson (approximately 1300). Opening hours: midday June-September Aug. Mon.-Fri. 9.00-17.00, Sat. from 10.00, Sun. 10.00-17.00, other times Mon.-Fri. 9.00-20.00, Sat. 10.00-17.00.
Lock
From the library the road leads to the castle on the mountain. It began to be built in 1548 under Gustav Vas. The bastions offer stunning views of the city and surrounding area. The castle houses the city art museum. Opening hours: Tue.-Fri. 12.00-16.00, Sat., Sun. 11.00-17.00.
Botanical Garden
At the foot of the castle lies the University Botanical Garden (Botaniska Tradgarden). Linneanum houses the Institute of Systematic Botany and richest collection cacti. A special pond for “Victoria Regia” was built in a tropical greenhouse (Victoria regia) and orchids are blooming, and in the courtyard a real Japanese garden pleases the eye. Opening hours: May-Aug. daily 7.00-17.00, other times until 19.00.
Linnaeus Gardens and Museum
In the northern part of the city center on Svartbacksgatan, the Linnaeus Gardens were founded in 1650, and became world famous when the great scientist began his scientific experiments here. The Linnaeus Museum is also open here and you can see the office of the doctor and the great naturalist. The collections of curiosities and dissected animals are of greatest interest. Opening hours: June-September. Sep. Tue-Sun 12.00-16.00.
Old Uppsala
5 km north of the center - Old Uppsala (Gamla Uppsala). In Swedish historiography it is considered to be the residence of the Yngling dynasty, which ruled the Swedes until the 4th century. Of the surviving monuments of pagan antiquity, the most notable are three huge mounds - the site of modern excavations. The Old Uppsala Church was erected in the first half of the 12th century, and this was also the residence of the bishop. The Great Saxon Grammar believed that in ancient times there was a pagan temple and temple of Odin in Uppsala. Archaeologists confirm that Old Uppsala was political center throughout Uppland, and the mounds are of a funerary nature.
Purchases
Wonderful shops are located primarily on Stora Torget and Kungsangsgatan. Lovers of book rarities gather on Saturdays on the river bank near the Cathedral Bridge.
Uppsala area
Hammarby
For those wishing to get acquainted with the surroundings of the city, we recommend that you first go to the Hammarby farm, the summer estate of Carl Linnaeus, “an employee of the Divine Office,” purchased by him in 1758. The walls of the great scientist’s study and bedroom are covered with pages from works on botany depicting flowers. The main building displays household items, his personal belongings and clothing.
Park opening hours: May-Sept. daily 8.00-20.00: museum and cafe: Tue.-Sun. 12.00-16.00.
Mura stones
There is a house not far from the Hammarby estate (1799) . The famous sacred stones Murasten are kept there (Swedish - Mora sten). In ancient times, Swedish kings and kings were elected and took the oath of allegiance to their vassals on the stones of the Mura field and put their name on the stone. We recommend visiting the church in Lagg (Lagga), where magnificent frescoes of the 15th century have been preserved.
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Uppsala is one of oldest cities and is located on the banks of the Furis River, 67 km northwest of the capital. Today, it is well known as the country's religious and medical center, famous for its developments in the field of biotechnology and medicine.
Peculiarities
One of the symbols of present-day Uppsala is the local Uppsala University, founded under Bishop Jacob Ulfsson in 1477. It has a high reputation and is of enormous importance for medical and scientific education at the state level. In addition to it, such landmark institutions as the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Johanelund Higher Theological School, the Catholic Newman Institute and the Pentecostal Theological Seminary stand out. Education, science, culture and religion have always occupied a special place in the life of the city, and such outstanding personalities as film director Ingmar Bergman, astronomer Anders Celsius, politician Klas Eklund, opera singer Malena Ernman, doctor Carl Linnaeus and guitarist Dave Lepard brought him world fame . The main industry areas here are mechanical engineering, printing and pharmaceutical industries. Uppsala has developed infrastructure, convenient transport links, abundance interesting places and attractions. IN summer time Every year there is a lot of greenery on the city streets, and during walks you can clearly smell the freshness, permeating the air with wonderful aromas.
general information
The territory of Uppsala is small and covers an area of less than 50 square meters. km, with a population of about 190 thousand people. Local time lags behind Moscow by 1 hour in summer and 2 in winter. Time zone UTC+1 and UTC+2 in the summer. Telephone code(+46) 18. Official website www.uppsala.se.
A brief excursion into history
The first houses appeared on these lands in the 5th century, and by the beginning of the 13th century the local village, lying along the banks of the Furis River, received the name East Aros. In 1245 it burned down, but was soon rebuilt, and then the Cathedral appeared here, which became the residence of the Archbishop of Uppsala. In the spring of 1520, a battle took place here between the Swedish army of the followers of Sten Sture the Younger and the army of the Danish king Christian II, which became the most massive and bloody in the history of this region. In the 16th century, Uppsala became the center of the religious Reformation throughout the country, marked by the universal adoption of the Lutheran faith. In subsequent centuries, the city developed rapidly, while maintaining its historical heritage to this day, despite numerous fires.
Climate
The territory of this area is dominated by a mild temperate climate, characteristic of the central part of the country. Winter in these places is rarely frosty, although average temperature air from December to February stabilizes at minus levels. Summer is usually warm, but not hot, and the thermometer fluctuates around +22 degrees. Precipitation is distributed evenly, and the most optimal time of year to visit the banks of the Furis River is from May to September.
How to get there
From international airport The distance to Uppsala is only a few tens of kilometers, which can be covered by bus or taxi. In addition, there are rail connections with other regions.
Transport
The most convenient way to travel within the city limits is by bus, on foot or on bicycles, which, like cars, can be rented at one of the local rental points.
Attractions and entertainment
In the role of chief architectural structure Uppsala is home to Uppsala Castle, built in the 16th century in the Renaissance style. It is one of Sweden's protected national monuments and now houses several institutions, including the Uppsala Art Museum and the Peace Museum. In front of the castle lies the wonderful Botanical Garden, which belongs to Uppsalla University. It is home to about 11,000 different plants, including the unique Linnaeus laurel trees, whose age exceeds 250 years. The second most important landmark of the city is the Cathedral, which has a reputation as the national Christian shrine of Sweden. Medieval style architecture is reflected in its brick walls, and the interior decoration, which has pronounced neo-Gothic features, harmoniously combines with the existing interior. Every year, the temple is visited by about half a million pilgrims.
Among other interesting places, it is worth highlighting the house-museum of Professor Carl Linnaeus, the Romanesque Bondchurk Church, made in the Romanesque style, and the Swedish Bandy Hall of Fame, for those who are partial to bandy. In the vicinity of the city, you should definitely visit the Great Mounds of Uppsalla, with the burials of ancient representatives of the Svei tribe. In total there are 3 mounds: Eastern, Western and Middle. There are many different legends and myths surrounding them, and the finds found here by archaeologists are of enormous historical significance. Besides excursion program, city guests can make an amusing trip along the waters of the Furis River, walk along the city streets or visit local restaurants.
Kitchen
Uppsalla's culinary establishments offer dishes to suit every taste, from all kinds of fish delicacies to fresh fruit and gourmet vegetable salads. An indispensable attribute of any menu are various drinks and delicious desserts.
Shopping
In the local shops and shopping complexes The wide range of various goods and souvenirs attracts attention.
Uppsalla has a rare charm and, although it has much in common with other Swedish cities, has something special that makes it stand out from the crowd. Here you can have a pleasant time, feel the atmosphere of the Swedish province and get to know the history of the region, which dates back to the distant Middle Ages.
There is a good view of the cathedral from royal palace, which was built by order of King Gustav I in the 16th century, during the formation of Sweden as independent state. The palace was badly damaged by a fire in 1572 and acquired its modern appearance at the beginning of the 17th century. But in 1702, a fire again destroyed the palace, after which it lay in ruins for a long time and was finally restored in 1815-1820. IN this moment The palace houses several museums and the regional administration.
Near the palace there are beautiful park and a botanical garden. Entrance to the garden is free (information). There is a separate garden with a museum dedicated to Carl Linnaeus, the most famous biologist in the world, the creator of a unified system for classifying flora and fauna. And if many people hardly remember the classes of plants and animals from school, then everyone knows another of his inventions - binomial nomenclature. The word is complex, but you have come across this term many times, especially if you paid attention to the names of plants in botanical gardens, there they are all called something like “pipitus vulgaris” :) For example, the species tiger (tigris) belongs to the genus cat (felis) and is designated Felis tigris, that is, the species and genus are written together. And the most famous examples are Tyrannosaurus rex and Homo sapiens.
The botanical garden belongs to Uppsala University, the oldest in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. The names of such scientists as Anders Celsius (guess what is named after him:), Carl Linnaeus, Andres Angström (the angström distance measurement value of 10 −10 m is named after him), and others are associated with the university. The old main building of the university houses the Gustavianum Museum (information).
Old Uppsala is located 5 kilometers from the city center (on the map). This is an ancient pagan settlement, the residence of the kings of the semi-legendary Yngling dynasty, which ruled from the 3rd-4th centuries. Apart from mounds and burials, nothing remains since then, but there is a museum under open air with old houses and a medieval church. From the center you can take bus number 2.
On the streets of the city we saw a homeless man with a very unusual bicycle.
Tourist maps of Uppsala with descriptions in PDF can be downloaded
Uppsala - old City in Sweden, the administrative center of the county (district) of Uppsala, in the province of Uppland. Since 1164, Uppsala has been the ecclesiastical center of Sweden, the seat of the Archdiocese of Uppsala and the seat of the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden.
Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest center higher education in Scandinavia. In addition to the spelling Uppsala, the spelling Uppsala is often found in literature in Russian (for example, in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, Dictionary of Modern geographical names and in publications in Russian prepared by the Swedish Institute - a Swedish government agency engaged in disseminating information about Sweden in the world). Uppsala was originally located a few kilometers to the north, in what is now known as Old Uppsala (Gamla Uppsala) and is now the northern district of the city. The spelling of this settlement was different: in addition to Uppsala, there were also variants Upsala, Upſala and Ubsala (Uppsala, Upfala, Ubsala).
The first buildings in Uppsala appeared in the 5th century. The city grew and developed, and by the beginning of the 13th century it shopping mall moved to more comfortable spot several kilometers along the Fyris River, receiving the name East Aros (Swedish: Östra Aros, Estra Aros). From ancient Uppsala to the present day, a church from the 13th century and burial mounds from the 4th-12th centuries remain. This territory belongs to the state and is protected by the Swedish central council national values. The open-air museum “Disagarden” is located in the protected area.
When Uppsala burned down in 1245, East Aros (Swedish: Östra Aros, Estra Aros) inherited the name of the former city. From Old Uppsala the center of the Archdiocese of Uppsala was moved here, and the new Uppsala Cathedral, opened in 1435, and the seat of the Archbishop of Uppsala were built. On April 6, 1520, on Good Friday in Uppsala, a battle took place between the Swedish army of peasants, followers of Sten Sture the Younger, and the army of the Danish king Christian II - one of the bloodiest battles ever fought in the Uppsala area.
In the 16th century, Uppsala was the center of the Reformation in Sweden. In 1536, a meeting of the Synod of the Swedish Church took place in Uppsala, at which Lutheran church books were recognized as mandatory for all of Sweden. The Synod of Uppsala was an important step in the reformation in Sweden. In 1593, by decision of the Synod in Uppsala, the Augsburg Confession was adopted and the Swedish Church officially became Lutheran. The city was heavily damaged many times as a result of numerous fires, the largest of which was in May 1702, and was rebuilt many times, but many historical Buildings preserved, especially in the western part of the city. Stockholm Arlanda Airport is located 35 km from Uppsala. Uppsala can also be reached by train from Stockholm itself in just 40 minutes.
Some of the city's attractions include: Uppsala University - the oldest in Scandinavia, founded in 1477, the House-Museum of Professor Carl Linnaeus, who lived and is buried in Uppsala, Uppsala Cathedral - gothic cathedral, the largest in Scandinavia (1260-1435), Bondchurk Church in the Romanesque style, 12th century, Royal Castle, Baroque "Gustavianum" from 1620 - now a museum, and until the 19th century the main building of Uppsala University, the complex of burial mounds "Great Mounds of Uppsala", Uppsala Mosque.