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Uppsala

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Uppsala is a major city located in Sweden. It is the fourth-largest city in the country, following Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö.

Uppsala by Sentinel-2, 2020-06-10
Uppsala by Sentinel-2, 2020-06-10

The city sits north of the capital, Stockholm. It is built on fertile flatlands with muddy soil. A small river called the Fyris flows through the middle of the landscape.

Charta öfwer Upsala stad no II
Charta öfwer Upsala stad no II

This river splits the city into two distinct parts. The west side is the historic quarter with medieval streets and parks. The east side is the modern center for shops and offices.

The city has a very long and interesting history. Long ago, the area was known as Gamla Uppsala, or Old Uppsala. This was a main center for pagan traditions in Sweden.

Utsikt av Uppsala med domkyrka, Elias Martin. Malmö museum
Utsikt av Uppsala med domkyrka, Elias Martin. Malmö museum

Later, the town was called Aros because it sat at a river mouth. In 1274, the main center moved to what we now call Uppsala. This happened after a fire destroyed the cathedral in the old location. The famous Uppsala Cathedral was then built in the Gothic style. It was finished in 1435 and remains one of the largest in northern Europe.

Many important buildings stand in Uppsala today. Uppsala Castle was built by King Gustav Vasa.

Uppsala slott-2
Uppsala slott-2

It once served as a home for Swedish monarchs. The castle sits on a high ridge called Uppsalaåsen. You can see much of the town from this high spot. The city is also a center for the Church of Sweden. Since 1164, it has been the seat of the Archbishop. This makes the city a very important place for religion in the region.

Uppsala is a famous place for learning and science. Uppsala University was founded in 1477. It is the oldest university in Scandinavia.

Carl von Linné
Carl von Linné

Many great thinkers have lived and worked here. Carl Linnaeus was a famous scientist who studied how to name living things. You can still visit his old house and his botanical garden.

Linneanum orangery, Botaniska Trädgården, Uppsala
Linneanum orangery, Botaniska Trädgården, Uppsala

Other famous people from the city include the filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and the singer Malena Ernman.

Malena Ernman at Eurovision 2009 (cropped)
Malena Ernman at Eurovision 2009 (cropped)

The city is also known for modern medical research and biotechnology.

The weather in Uppsala changes quite a bit between seasons. The city has cold winters and warm summers.

Uppsala slott-2
Uppsala slott-2

Because it is so far north, the amount of sunlight changes a lot. In the summer, the sun stays up for over 18 hours. In the winter, there are less than 6 hours of sunshine. Winters often bring snow, which stays on the ground for about 100 days a year. The city also gets quite a lot of rain, especially between June and November. Even though it can get cold, the Gulf Stream helps keep winters milder than other places at the same latitude.

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🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Charta öfwer Upsala stad no II.jpg
Charta öfwer Upsala stad no II.jpg
File:Utsikt av Uppsala med domkyrka, Elias Martin. Malmö museum.JPG
Utsikt av Uppsala med domkyrka, Elias...
File:Uppsala by Sentinel-2, 2020-06-10.jpg
Uppsala by Sentinel-2, 2020-06-10.jpg
File:Linneanum orangery, Botaniska Trädgården, Uppsala.jpg
Linneanum orangery, Botaniska Trädgården,...
File:Uppsala slott-2.jpg
Uppsala slott-2.jpg
File:Bandyfinal2010 hammarby celebration.jpg
Bandyfinal2010 hammarby celebration.jpg
File:20250905-Nathalie Björn.jpg
20250905-Nathalie Björn.jpg
File:Malena Ernman at Eurovision 2009 (cropped).jpg
Malena Ernman at Eurovision 2009 (cropped).jpg
File:Carl von Linné.jpg
Carl von Linné.jpg
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