The History of Uppsala
Uppsala, one of Sweden’s oldest and most culturally significant cities, holds a unique place in Scandinavian history. Located about 70km north of Stockholm, Uppsala has been a center for religious, political, and academic life in Sweden for over a thousand years. Known originally as a Viking-era settlement and religious center, it became the heart of Norse pagan worship, with Old Uppsala housing temples dedicated to gods like Thor, Odin, and Frey.
With the rise of Christianity in the 12th century, Uppsala transformed into an important Christian hub, becoming the seat of the Archbishop and establishing itself as a symbol of Sweden’s emerging national identity. In the 15th century, Uppsala University was founded, making it Scandinavia’s oldest university and solidifying the city’s role as an intellectual and cultural centre. Today, Uppsala blends its rich past with a vibrant modern identity, known for its historical landmarks like the Uppsala Cathedral and its ongoing contributions to education and science. The city remains a fascinating destination to explore the layered history of Sweden, from its Viking roots to its academic and religious heritage.
I remember on my first-ever trip to Sweden with my then-boyfriend (now husband), I wanted to take a day-trip to Uppsala from Stockholm because of the burial mounds there – I was interested in Norse mythology at the time.
If you’re in Stockholm I highly recommend including a day-trip to Uppsala on your journey. It’s very easy to do by train. And before you go, familiarise yourself with the history of Uppsala. Here’s my guide to the history of Uppsala, from the perspective of travelling to the region.
The History of Uppsala
Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Uppsala, including practical information and things to do.
Early History of Uppsala
The first peoples came to Uppsala around 5,000BC, when the land rose following the melting of the ice from the last ice age. Originally, Uppsala was a bay, but now the area is inland. While the area around Uppsala was mentioned in the mythological Ynglinga Saga, the first historic mention of Uppsala is in the year 98.
The Early Importance of Uppsala
During the Iron Age, sometimes called the ‘Vendel Period’ in Swedish history, considerable wealth was built up around Gamla Uppsala from mining and trade. The settlement wasn’t where Uppsala is today, rather it was located where the region “Gamla Uppsala” is today – approximately 5km (3 miles) north of the current Uppsala.
Gamla Uppsala was a central point for the prehistoric power structure that would later develop into Sweden as a country.
The site was a former bay, but during the Viking Age as the land was rising, the bay somewhat disappeared.
The Royal Mounds
It was during this period that the Royal Mounds were erected. The mounds are three large barrows located in the area today called Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala). According to folklore, the three gods Thor, Odin and Freyr would be at rest at the barrows. Originally there was also a temple here, but it’s believed that it was destroyed at the time when Christianity came to Sweden. The mounds are Sweden’s oldest national symbols. One of the mounds was excavated in the late 19th century and in the mound were remains of a man and animals, probably for food for the journey. Remains of a warriors equipment were also found.
Medieval Scandinavians considered Gamla Uppsala to be one of the most important locations in Scandinavia. The Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus believed Odin resided in Gamla Uppsala. The Icelandic historian Snorri Sturlason had Odin reside at nearby Fornsigtuna, whereas the god Freyr lived at Gamla Uppsala. Saxo Grammaticus adds that Freyr began he human sacrifices at Gamla Uppsala. Sacrifices in Gamla Uppsala were also described by Adam of Bremen at the Uppsala temple.
It’s not quite known where the permanent settlement was. It’s believed that from the end of the Viking Age, the site was probably closest to the port. Only during the 12th century is evidence of a city properly traceable. In written documents, Uppsala is mentioned for the first time in Sweden’s oldest manuscript from 1164,
The Temple of Uppsala
The Temple of Uppsala is generally regarded to have been the religious centre of Scandinavia in pre-Christian times. There are somewhat conflicting reports about the temple and its use, for example some historians believe it was used by Christians (some of the documented sacrifices there resemble Christian practices), while others believe it to be pagan.
The Temple was eventually destroyed, though it’s not known when. There are different opinions on where the Temple was, though many believe it was close to where Gamla Uppsala Church was built.
Gamla Uppsala Archaeological Site
Today the area generally regarded to be the religious centre of Scandinavia is called the Gamla Uppsala archaeological site. This is where you’ll find the burial mounds as well as large areas of archaeological importnace – for example, up to 3,000 graves are believed to be here.
This was an important place during the period of Norse mythology but was also where a major general assembly called “The Thing of All Swedes” took place from prehistoric times until the end of the Viking Age. This is also where the Temple was believed to be.
If you are interested in learning more about the discoveries made here, you can visit the Gamla Uppsala Museum (click here for museum website).
Christianisation of Uppsala
It’s believed that Uppsala was the last pre-Christian, Norse Germanic stronghold in Scandinavia. The country’s final Christianisation process took place here.
At the end of the Viking Age, the Temple of Uppsala was replaced by a Christian Church – probably the Gamle Uppsala Church.
In 1164, Gamle Uppsala Church became the seat of the archbishop. A lot of power was moved to Uppsala during the Middle Ages, and the city continued to develop as an important place for Scandinavia.
Moving Uppsala South & Uppsala Cathedral
When the Gamla Uppsala Church was damaged by a fire in 1204, the Chapter sought permission from the Holy See to move the church to a larger site. Pope Alexander IV granted this request in 1258, on the condition that the name Uppsala be maintained.
So, the city was moved south. The original settlement was renamed “Gamla Uppsala” (Old Uppsala), while the new town was called Uppsala. The move officially took place in 1273, the same year that Uppsala Cathedral began.
Uppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral dates to the late 13th century and, at a height of 118 metres, is the tallest cathedral in the Nordic countries. The cathedral was originally built under Roman Catholicism and was used as a coronation church for a long time. Much of the cathedral was redesigned after the fire of 1702 and after a renovation in the 1880s.
It is possible to visit Uppsala Cathedral.
Uppsala was fortified in the 14th century when the Archbishops Castle was built. The Castle is mentioned in the battles of 1497 and 1521 (mentioned below), and at the end of the War of Liberation, King Gustav restored the castle and held a coronation party there.
The castle caught fire in 1543 and was not restored. When the University House was built in 1879, the ruins of the castle were uncovered but no archaeological survey was carried out.
Uppsala University
On the 27th of February 1477, Uppsala University was founded through a bull by Pope Sixtus IV. It became the first university int he Nordic region and the northernmost university in the world at the time.
Education was divided into four faculties: The Faculty of Philosophy, Medicine, Law and Theology. Teaching revolved around scholastic philosophy inspired by the ancient philosopher Aristotle.
Uppsala University
You can view the University’s historic collections at the Gustavianum building.
The Vasa Period & the Reformation (16th Century)
While Gustav Vasa’s reign was generally regard as good for the development of Stockholm (read my separate overview of the history of Stockholm here), it was not good for Uppsala.
With the Reformation, the university’s activities came to be severely limited. The university was Catholic, and that was not something that was appreciated by Gustav Vasa and all the new Lutherans. After the Reformation, teaching practically died out after the mid-16th century. The Reformation also meant that both power and capital were moved from the church in Uppsala to the king in Stockholm.
In 1543, a large city fire in Uppsala destroyed St. Peter’s Church, the Franciscan Convent, and the Archbishop’s Castle, with none of them being rebuilt later.
In 1539, the King had Uppsala Castle built in the city. The castle was later remodelled after a fire in 1572 and was expanded into a Renaissance palace. One of its most important tasks was to host the coronation festivities after the ceremony in the cathedral.
Sweden's Century of Power (17th Century)
In Sweden, the 17th century was a period of power and domination in Europe. For Uppsala, the city became the kingdom’s secondary capital as it was the seat of the archbishop, the Swedish Academy, and the University.
The Lutheran King Gustav II Adolf re-established the Uppsala University as he wanted to develop Sweden into an intellectual country.
He added subjects like political science and history. In 1622, a new university building called the Gustavianum was built (this is where the University museum is today).
In 1624, Gustav II Adolf donated the Gustavian heritage – over 400 farms and crofts – to the university. Their value today is estimated at over 2 billion SEK.
In 1643, the medieval city was largely demolished and rebuilt based off plans by Anders Torstensson, who designed the city in a wide grid pattern. The city’s main meeting place was moved from The Old Square to Stora Torget. The city was built within an area of 800mx1200m and was not expanded until the 19th century. The area around the cathedral escaped the city plan and demolition, so it is still characterised by an irregular street pattern.
The Celsius House is one of the few medieval houses in the eastern city that survived demolition and doesn’t stand parallel to other houses along the pedestrian street.
The City Fire of 1702
One of the most important events in Uppsala’s history is the city fire on 16 May 1702. The fire started near the current Old Square. Most of Uppsala was on the west side of the river, but it had been dry for a long time and the fire was able to spread quickly in a strong wind over the wooden bridges.
Among the damaged buildings were Uppsala Cathedral, which was almost completely burned and could not be used again until 1707. Uppsala Castle was also severely damaged and never completely rebuilt – the castle looks the same today as it did after reconstruction. Another damaged building was one of the university’s main buildings, the Academia Carolina, which was so badly damaged that it was not rebuilt.
With the city fire, Uppsala lost its position as the kingdom’s second city and coronation city, as Ulrika Eleonora became the last Swedish monarch to be crowned here in 1719.
The Enlightenment (18th Century)
As an academic city, Uppsala was strongly influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment. During the 18th century, reason and science were celebrated and during the 1720s Uppsala and the university began to flourish.
New institutions for subjects such as chemistry, physics and economics were established.
During this period, many of the most prominent figures of the Swedish enlightenment began to live and work in the city. Carl von Linne began mapping and systemising the plant world. Anders Celsius created Sweden’s first proper observatory in 1741, where astronomical and meteorological observations were regularly carried out.
Romanticism & Industrialisation (19th Century)
During the Romantic period, strong Scandinavian currents arose at universities around the Nordics. The first Scandinavian student meeting was held in 1843 in Uppsala and students from the universities in Copenhagen, Kristiania (Oslo) and Lund came to the city. In order to recognise each other at student meetings, it was decided that students should wear identical caps, which became the model for today’s student caps.
In 1870, women gained access to the university and in 1872 Betty Pettersson became the first female student to be enrolled at a Swedish university.
Population growth took off in the middle of the 19th century thanks to industrialisation.
Wars & Postwar Period (20th Century)
As Sweden was neutral during both World Wars, the city was left in tact and not directly impacted.
Uppsala’s post-war history is characterised by expansion. Extensive parts of central Uppsala were demolished and rebuilt in a more functionalist style of architecture. Neoclassical houses from the late 19th century were largely demolished, while older houses were preserved.
Uppsala also had strong population growth, with the municipality growing from 75,000 in 1940 to 156,000 in 1990.
Modern Times (21st Century)
As Sweden was neutral during both World Wars, the city was left in tact and not directly impacted.
Uppsala’s post-war history is characterised by expansion. Extensive parts of central Uppsala were demolished and rebuilt in a more functionalist style of architecture. Neoclassical houses from the late 19th century were largely demolished, while older houses were preserved.
Uppsala also had strong population growth, with the municipality growing from 75,000 in 1940 to 156,000 in 1990.
Be sure to read my detailed travel guide for Uppsala, including practical information and things to do.
