Uppsala - a record by mistake

Uppsala is partying loudly until dawn, and Juwenalia is talked about long after the most abused student has sober up. The city is also famous for its royal mounds and too large cathedral.

Uppsala is the former capital and the fourth largest city in Sweden. It is located in the south-eastern part of the country, less than an hour's drive from Stockholm (via the E4 route). It is a well-known university center in Europe and, as befits one, it is teeming with life and endless fun.

Spring Witch Deterrence

The fact that Uppsala attracts young people from different countries can be seen especially during the great student holiday - Sista April. This event is partly Juwenalia, partly a free interpretation of the so-called Walpurgisnacht , the night of evil spirits. Legends about the Sabbaths at the Brocken Summit on the night of April 30 to May 1, and the traditions of lighting great fires on the hills to drive away the witches, have become the occasion for events attended by thousands of people each year.

Today, Sista April begins with a solemn speech of a representative of the university authorities, and the grand party continues in the elegant interiors of 16th-century palaces. Participants enjoy themselves until the morning with mugs of beer and singing to welcome spring.

Uppsala records

The main attraction of the city is Domkyran . Whatever it may sound like, the largest Gothic cathedral in Scandinavia, the architects intended, was not supposed to be so huge. Its size is the result of a mistake similar to that of a graphic designer who created Lara Croft's bust. Well, he clicked a time or two too many, which makes the heroine of the game look like this today. The builders of the Swedish temple made a mistake in their bills, converting feet to meters. The result was a cathedral that was more than three times larger than planned.

The gigantic temple owes its fame not only to its size (118.7 meters long, 45 meters wide). Its crypt contains the bodies of Swedish rulers (including Gustav I Vasa), as well as the relics of the country's king and patron, Eric IX. The cathedral rises into the sky with two towers, and in one of them there are two bells from Poland. One of them, the majestic Thornan , is the largest church bell in Sweden.

The Son's Window (Sonens Fönster), located above the southern portal, is also an impressive structure. With an area of 119 meters, it boasts the well-deserved fame of Sweden's largest stained glass window.

Campsite in Uppsala

Apart from the famous cathedral in Uppsala, there are also numerous parks, incl. the surrounding palace complex Uppsala Slott or the Linnetradgarden Museum of Linnaeus (Linnaeus Garden) adjacent to the building. Around 1,600 species of exotic plants grow around the building where the professor-genius lived. The Botaniska Tradgarden is also beautiful.

A slightly different attraction are the royal burial mounds in Gamla Uppsala , located approx. 5 km from the city. According to early sources, it was famous throughout northern Europe in the past. It abounds in numerous finds invaluable for archaeologists, and the area itself is peaceful and full of greenery.

From Gamla Uppsala, the year-round campsite Fyrishov can be reached in less than 10 minutes by car. We will spend the night there for SEK 100 (child for SEK 80). Parking space is included in the price. There is an indoor swimming pool and a recreation center. The wide range of activities offered by the campsite also includes numerous events, kayak rental, football and mini golf. It is an ideal starting point to the city and its surroundings.

As you can see, not only monuments can be found in Upssala. The city also tempts those who just want to relax in a beautiful place, surrounded by greenery.