Uppsala is a Swedish City in central Sweden, located about 70 km north
of Stockholm. It is the fourth largest city in Sweden with its 180,000
inhabitants. It is also the administrative centre of Uppsala County
(Uppsala län), and the seat of the Swedish archbisop since 1164.
History[edit this]
Uppsala is one of the historically most important places in Sweden.
Since the 5th century AD, Uppsala has been a religious and political and
later also academic centre in the country. The impressive burial mounds
in Old Uppsala testify the importance of the area in the time from 400 to
1100 AD. Carvings in the rune stones, which are found at numerous
places in Uppsala county, show that the vikings were not only savage
robbers and looters, but had great artistic skills as well.
After christianization, Uppsala soon became the seat of the archbishop
of Sweden (which it still is). The cathedral was built next to the mounds
of Gamla (Old) Uppsala. After it was partly destroyed in a fire, Uppsala
was moved to its present position where trade already flourished, and
the former town was renamed to Old Uppsala.
The university (founded 1477) is the oldest in northern Europe. The fact
that Uppsala became the city to host the university documents the city's
importance in the late middle ages. Together with the castle and
northern Europe's greatest cathedral, the university dominates
Uppsala's silhouette. The castle is built on the highest point of the city
by the Wasa dynasty kings in the 16th century, during the time Sweden
was on its way to become a great power in Europe.
During the 16th and 17th century, Uppsala was the crowning city for the
Swedish kings and queens. One of the most famous Uppsala citizens of
that time was Carl von Linne (in English usually called Carl Linnaeus),
who invented the classification and nomenclature of the flora and fauna,
which is still in use today. You can follow his footprints all over
Uppsala's old town.
Not much was left of the medieval town of Uppsala after several
devastating fires. After the fire of 1602, which did not leave many
buildings unharmed, the street net was nearly completely re-drawn,
after that time's fashion with rectangular blocks. Some remains of the
old net are preserved close to the cathedral.
Being neutral in both world wars, Sweden's cities were not destroyed
by bombs. However, the concrete rush in the 60ies and 70ies had a
similar effect on many old buildings in the city centre. Today the
buildings in the pedestrian area are a very "central European" mixture of
old and more modern architecture.
Please, don't copy this text and photos without my permission.
of Stockholm. It is the fourth largest city in Sweden with its 180,000
inhabitants. It is also the administrative centre of Uppsala County
(Uppsala län), and the seat of the Swedish archbisop since 1164.
History[edit this]
Uppsala is one of the historically most important places in Sweden.
Since the 5th century AD, Uppsala has been a religious and political and
later also academic centre in the country. The impressive burial mounds
in Old Uppsala testify the importance of the area in the time from 400 to
1100 AD. Carvings in the rune stones, which are found at numerous
places in Uppsala county, show that the vikings were not only savage
robbers and looters, but had great artistic skills as well.
After christianization, Uppsala soon became the seat of the archbishop
of Sweden (which it still is). The cathedral was built next to the mounds
of Gamla (Old) Uppsala. After it was partly destroyed in a fire, Uppsala
was moved to its present position where trade already flourished, and
the former town was renamed to Old Uppsala.
The university (founded 1477) is the oldest in northern Europe. The fact
that Uppsala became the city to host the university documents the city's
importance in the late middle ages. Together with the castle and
northern Europe's greatest cathedral, the university dominates
Uppsala's silhouette. The castle is built on the highest point of the city
by the Wasa dynasty kings in the 16th century, during the time Sweden
was on its way to become a great power in Europe.
During the 16th and 17th century, Uppsala was the crowning city for the
Swedish kings and queens. One of the most famous Uppsala citizens of
that time was Carl von Linne (in English usually called Carl Linnaeus),
who invented the classification and nomenclature of the flora and fauna,
which is still in use today. You can follow his footprints all over
Uppsala's old town.
Not much was left of the medieval town of Uppsala after several
devastating fires. After the fire of 1602, which did not leave many
buildings unharmed, the street net was nearly completely re-drawn,
after that time's fashion with rectangular blocks. Some remains of the
old net are preserved close to the cathedral.
Being neutral in both world wars, Sweden's cities were not destroyed
by bombs. However, the concrete rush in the 60ies and 70ies had a
similar effect on many old buildings in the city centre. Today the
buildings in the pedestrian area are a very "central European" mixture of
old and more modern architecture.
Please, don't copy this text and photos without my permission.
