Uppsala

Overview

Uppsala (pop. ca 130 000, in the municipality ca 180,000) is located 70 km north-northwest of Stockholm and is one of the oldest cities in Sweden. You can feel the winds of history at many places in and around the town, which has a collection of monumental buildings alongside with well detectable traces of a too-quick redevelopment in the 1960s.�The archeological site Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala) about five kilometres north of the city is sometimes called "The cradle of the Swedish nation". Uppsala locals are proud of the 500-year-old university with its academic heritage, of Scandinavia's largest cathedral and of the 16th century castle. Even though it is Sweden's 4th biggest city, it has, partially, preserved a small-town character. The student clubs ("Nations") housed in manor-like buildings form a considerable part of the local nightlife. Once a year, on 30 April, the 30,000 students take over the city completely. Together with thousands of visitors they welcome spring on Walpurgis Eve.

History