Uppsala Cathedral

Uppsala Cathedral is the tallest church in Scandinavia, a vast brick Gothic building whose twin spires dominate the university city. The seat of the Swedish church, it holds the shrine of the national saint Erik, the tomb of King Gustav Vasa and the grave of Carl Linnaeus, the father of botanical naming.

Background

Work started about 1272 in Östra Aros by the Fyris River, after the older cathedral at Gamla Uppsala suffered fire damage in 1204. The relics of Saint Eric were brought over in 1273. French architects, Étienne de Bonneuil among them, planned it in the French Gothic style as a cross. Most of the structure rose between 1272 and 1420, and it was consecrated on 7 June 1435. It is built of brick, with pillars and many details in Gotland limestone, and stands 118.7 metres high. After a fire in 1702, Carl Hårleman gave the towers low helms in 1735, and Helgo Zetterwall reworked the building in the 1880s.

Source: Wikipedia, "Uppsala Cathedral"

Highlights

• The twin-spired nave - the soaring brick Gothic interior, the tallest in the region.
• Saint Erik's shrine - the reliquary of Sweden's patron saint.
• Royal and famous tombs - the graves of Gustav Vasa and Linnaeus among others.
• The treasury - medieval textiles and royal robes in the tower museum.

When to go

Year-round; an indoor visit for any weather, and a working cathedral, so check for services. The university town around it is liveliest in term time.

What to expect

It is much restored in the 19th century, so it reads as grand Gothic revival as much as medieval. As a working cathedral, parts may be closed for worship. It is a landmark to admire and a short visit rather than a long one.

Nearby

Uppsala University, the castle and the Linnaeus garden are close; Gamla Uppsala's mounds are just north.

Key facts