Uppsala Cathedral ( Swedish: Uppsala domkyrka) is a cathedral located between the University Hall of Uppsala University and the Fyris river in the centre of Uppsala, Sweden. A church of the Church of Sweden, the national church, in the Lutheran tradition, Uppsala Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Uppsala,…

What is there to do in Uppsala?

A stone’s throw away lies Uppsala Cathedral, the burial place of Swedish royals such as King Gustav Vasa, who died in 1560. Other must-see sights include Uppsala Castle and its expansive grounds. A sprawling affair, this key landmark houses three museums: Uppsala Art Museum, House of Peace and Vasaborgen.

What makes Uppsala’s domkyrka unique?

Uppsala domkyrka is made of local brick, giving the structure a unique red color that brightens up the landscape in winter and glows with the sunset in summer. One chapel contains 14th-century murals depicting the legend of St. Erik, the patron saint of Sweden.

Who was the first Archbishop of Uppsala?

The first archbishop was the Cistercian monk Stefan of Alvastra. After the cathedral in Gamla Uppsala was damaged by fire in 1204, the Chapter sought permission from the Holy See to move the building to a larger site. Pope Alexander IV granted this request in 1258 on condition that the name of Uppsala be maintained.

Did Pope John Paul II visit Uppsala Cathedral?

In 1989, Pope John Paul II took part in an ecumenical service in Uppsala Cathedral with Archbishop Bertil Werkström. Fire protection equipment was installed in 2010 and the electrical and heating systems have been replaced. The cathedral is the tallest church building in Scandinavia.

When was the first cathedral built in Sweden?

About 1272, work began on building a new cathedral in Östra Aros near the Fyris River to the south. It was constructed on the site of the earlier stone church dedicated to the Holy Trinity, located almost exactly where the cathedral’s chancel now stands.

What makes Uppsala’s Treasury so special?

The Treasury is situated in the cathedral’s north tower and houses one of Europe’s finest collections of medieval church fabrics. Uppsala domkyrka is made of local brick, giving the structure a unique red color that brightens up the landscape in winter and glows with the sunset in summer.

What happened to the viking temple at Uppsala?

At the end of the Viking Era, the pagan temple at Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the north of today’s Uppsala, was replaced by a Christian church. Although the exact date of its construction is not known, in 1123 Siward was ordained Bishop of Uppsala by the Archbishop of Bremen-Hamburg.