Quick facts about Uppsala
As you will soon see -- whether it be enjoying nature, learning about the country's history, or simply absorbing Swedish culture, Uppsala offers something for everyone. I hope this site will help you discover more about the city and its people. Feel free to download it all as a PDF file. Enjoy Uppsala.
- Uppsala is the fourth largest city in Sweden
- The population is roughly 168,000
- Uppsala University is the oldest university in Sweden
- Uppsala is the seat of the Archbishop
- Uppsala has largest cathedral in Scandinavia
S.Pathkiller 2008, Runestone located near the University Hall, CC.
Uppsala is the fourth largest city in Sweden with the municipality of Uppsala, as of 2016, reporting a population of approximately 211,411. Roughly 168,000 of those people live in the city, which developed around the banks of the Fyris River winding through it.
Uppsala is also the home of two universities. And while the city is probably best known for Uppsala University, which was founded in the 15th century, it has been an important place for much longer. By the 6th century, it was already a center for religious and political activity. Heathen kings reigned from Uppsala.
There is a legend that every ninth year the mid-winter sacrifice was held in Gamla Uppsala and that there was once a splendid temple there. People from all the other provinces of the Kingdom of Svea came there in order to sacrifice to the Nordic gods. Today there are royal burial mounds standing as a permanent symbol of its important past. The Aesir cult eventually gave way to Christianity, and Uppsala became the seat of the archbishop for Sweden.
The city boasts having the largest cathedral in Scandinavia, Domkyrkan. The impressive cathedral, along with the pink-colored castle, dominates the city skyline. Read further to gain more insight into Uppsala’s unique history.
S.Pathkiller 2008, Glunten and Magistern, student characters in a collection of songs written by Gunnar Wennerberg, whose statue stands nearby, CC