Uppsala History Facts and Timeline

(Uppsala, Uppsala County, Sweden)

Regarded by many as the ecclesiastical heart of Sweden, this city has a long tradition of spiritual activity and higher academia. There is plenty of enchanting history in Uppsala to appreciate, including its Renaissance castle and ancient Gamla Uppsala (Old Town).

With its placid canals and waterways, the city has a certain Amsterdam quality in miniature. This landscape is complemented by a lively student population that makes Sweden's fourth-biggest city a real charmer.

Gamla Uppsala History

The present-day city is really several kilometres south of its original location, which is now named as Gamla Uppsala. This settlement was the main centre for Sweden's pagan worship as far back as the 6th century AD, when it was well known throughout northern Europe as the home of the legendary Yngling dynasty of Swedish kings. The 'Temple at Uppsala' was a marvel of their pagan religion, containing impressive idols of their gods. Human sacrifices were even made to the Norse gods in this thriving religious centre.

Ostra Aros

When Gamla Uppsala was the centre of attention, modern-day Uppsala was known as Ostra Aros. It served as the port for Gamla Uppsala, but eventually emerged as a Christian alternative for the pagan gods of Scandinavia and was developed into a major Christian centre in the area. By the middle of the 1160s, Ostra Aros had its first bishop and was given an archdiocese.

A Christian Town is Created

In 1274, Ostra Aros finally overshadowed Gamla Uppsala and took over as the main town of the region, in terms of trade and religion. In time, the town was targeted as one of Sweden's centres for the conversion of its people from paganism to Christianity. The lovely Gothic-style Uppsala Cathedral was opened in 1435, and remains one of the tallest in Scandinavia, as well as a major attraction for visitors.

A University is Added to the Mix

After the arrival of the spectacular cathedral, the city was well established as a Swedish centre of Christianity. Soon after, it added higher learning to its scene. Scandinavia's oldest university, Uppsala University, was founded here in 1477. It immediately attracted leading minds of the day, such as acclaimed botanist and zoologist Carolus Linnaeus, as well as many other notable Swedes.

A Castle Fit for a European Power

Perhaps the most grandiose structure in the entire city is Uppsala Castle (Slott), built in 1549 at the request of King Gustav Vasa. At this point in the history of Uppsala, and Sweden as a whole, the kingdom was on its way to becoming a major European power. The vast castle represented the potential of Sweden, but unfortunately it was almost totally destroyed in a 1702 fire. Reconstruction took decades and today it is one of the highlights of a visit to this city.

Modernisation

Like so many Swedish cities, a lot of the architectural history of the city was lost during the 1960s and 1970s, when the country turned its focus on the future. There is still a fair amount of historic architecture to be admired in the western part of the city, as well as historic attractions like the castle's State Hall, where Swedish kings were once enthroned.