Linnaeus museum and garden

From central station, one your way towards the cathedral and castle be sure to walk by Linnaeus gardens.

Cal von Linné (usually called Carl Linnaeus in English) is probably Uppsala’s most famous citizen. In his book, System Naturae, he laid the foundation for a new system of classifying and naming plants. It was not long before other scientists saw the value of his ideas for organization, which replaced earlier systems that were complicated and difficult to use. His system, based on the reproductive systems of plants, is still being used today. He was a humble man as well, as evidenced by his motto “God did the creating, Linnaeus the arranging.”

Like many great men of that period, Linnaeus had multiple careers. As well as his research and writing, he practiced as a physician and also was a member of the Faculty of Medicine in Uppsala. In addition to lecturing students, he led many people on excursions into the forests and meadows of Sweden to observe and study flowers and insects. If you have the opportunity to hike one of the many public trails around Uppsala, it is quite likely that you will be walking in the footsteps of the king of flowers, Linnaeus.

The Linnaeus Museum and garden is located on Svartbäcksgatan and is open from June through September. On display in the museum are a number of items collected during his travels. The museum is connected to the garden, which contains over a thousand plant varieties. The Linnaeus Garden is arranged according the original plan by Carl Linnaeus in 1745.

Linnaeus Hammarby

If you are especially interested in the life of Linnaeus, it would be well worth a visit to his country estate, Hammarby, which is located 15 kilometers southeast of Uppsala. Linnaeus bought Hammarby in 1758 as a summer house where he and his family could escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

There were a number of buildings including the large main house, a tenant house, barn, stable, and even a couple of cabins where Linnaeus housed soldiers for the state (instead of paying tax). He used the property to experiment cultivating different crop varieties, those that were native to Sweden and more exotic crops as well. The estate and surrounding farmland has been kept to appear as it would have at the end of the 1700s. Furthermore, there is a two-kilometer walking trail around the property.