An Excellent (free) tour of Uppsala

Today I had the absolute pleasure of going on a free tour of Uppsala with Jonas Häggblom one of the guides and masterminds behind Sweden Free Tours/Uppsala. I met up with Jonas (and his fellow guide Pär Holmberg who didn't come with us as he was off to play football) at Stora Torget (the main square) where he was just finishing a coffee from the nearby Pressbyran shop. At a little after 10:00 am we decided that I was the only tour attendee and off we went. I won't give away all the details of the tour but just tempt you with some photos (starting with one of Jonas himself).

My guide Jonas - no brolly needed on today's tour though it started off cloudy

We began down by the river where Jonas explained the historical significance of this picturesque waterway to me and then we walked across the river and past two of the buildings belonging to Uppsala's student nations. The second nation whose building we stopped to admire and learn a bit about was that of Västgöta nation (commonly known as VG) where I will be going tomorrow to get my temporary ID card for orientation week.

Looking southeast along the River Fyris

VG's building dates from the 17th century

Next we walked up toward the castle and Carolina Rediviva (the university library). Here I learned a little about Gunnar Wennerberg as well as the origins of and precious objects housed within Carolina Rediviva. Then it was up the hill to the castle for a few stories about the building itself and tales of the bad (often horrendously bad!) behaviour of Swedish royalty in days gone by. 

Gunnar Wennerberg - looking toward the Carolina Rediviva

Carolina Rediviva

Gustav Vasa

The castle's cannons were (and are still!) trained on the cathedral so that the king could keep the clergy in line (though presumably that is not necessary today)

After pondering the castle and its history we wandered over to the part of the botanical gardens that was the original 'castle garden' where Jonas told me about the exploits of Uppsala's most famous (scientific) son - Carl Linnaeus. Then it was time for a break which we took outside of the Saluhallen. After a drink and snack we went on to the university's main building then to the fountain that is supposed to mark the spot where a spring miraculously erupted from the ground when St. Eric was beheaded. 

The castle garden

University main building

Can't remember who this is (sorry Jonas) but the woman is his 'idealized' image of his daughter

Top of fountain which still spews forth water from the miraculous spring

bottom of the fountain

view to the river below

We then walked up to the courtyard of the cathedral which is currently occupied by bleachers for a theatrical performance happening over the next few days (Kronikespel). As well as admiring the cathedral we looked at the Gustavianum which is now a museum. This was, regrettably, the end of the tour which had taken about two hours and twenty minutes. There are four tours each weekend, two in Swedish and two in English. Presently the English tours are at 10:00 am on Saturday and 2:00 pm on Sunday and the Swedish tours are the opposite (2:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 am on Sunday) but check the Sweden Free Tours website to make sure nothing has changed - their contact information is also on the website should you wish to confirm by email or phone.

Thanks Jonas for a wonderful time and I wish you all the best in your ventures (and especially in next Saturday's exam).