Uppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral – Uppsala Cathedral (Swedish: Uppsala domkyrka) is the largest and tallest cathedral in Scandinavia, the seat of the Archbishop of Uppsala, and the national cathedral of Sweden. Construction began in 1287 under French architects and continued for over 150 years, resulting in a magnificent Gothic structure built primarily of brick in the French Gothic style. The cathedral’s twin spires rise to 118.7 meters (389 feet), dominating the Uppsala skyline. The cathedral serves as the coronation church of Swedish monarchs and houses the tombs of numerous Swedish kings, including Gustav Vasa and his wives, King John III, and the scientist Carl Linnaeus. The interior contains important works of art including medieval frescoes, altarpieces, and the golden shrine of Saint Eric, Sweden’s patron saint and a former King of Sweden martyred in 1160. Uppsala Cathedral is particularly celebrated for its French Gothic architecture (rare in Scandinavia); its role as Sweden’s national cathedral and royal burial site; the Sture Chapel with frescoes by Albertus Pictor (15th century); and the golden reliquary shrine of Saint Eric, one of Sweden’s most important religious artifacts.
