Uppsala Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uppsala Domkyrka |
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| The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Uppsala | |
Uppsala Cathedral from the southwest
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| Location | Uppsala, Uppland |
| Country | Sweden |
| Denomination | Church of Sweden |
| Previous denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Authorising papal bull | 1258 |
| Status | Cathedral, National shrine |
| Dedication | Saint Lawrence, Saint Eric, Saint Olaf |
| Consecrated | 1435 |
| Relics held | Saint Eric, Saint Bridget |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Gothic |
| Years built | 1272–1893 (last major alteration) |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 389 feet (119 m) |
| Width | 148 feet (45 m) |
| Nave height | 89 feet (27 m) |
| Number of towers | 2 |
| Number of spires | 3 |
| Spire height | 389 feet (119 m) |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Uppsala |
Uppsala Cathedral (Swedish: Uppsala domkyrka) is a very old and important church in Uppsala, Sweden. It stands between the University Hall and the Fyris river. This cathedral belongs to the Church of Sweden, which follows the Lutheran tradition. It is the main church for the Archbishop of Uppsala, who is the most important leader of the Church in Sweden.
The cathedral is also the resting place of King Eric IX, who lived from about 1120 to 1160. He became the patron saint of Sweden. For a long time, new Kings of Sweden were crowned here. Today, the archbishop is Martin Modéus, and the bishop is Karin Johannesson.
This amazing building was started in the late 1200s. It is the tallest church in all the Nordic countries, standing at 118.7 metres (389 ft). It was first built for the Roman Catholic faith. After the Protestant Reformation, it was used for coronations of Swedish monarchs. Many chapels inside were changed into tombs for Swedish kings, like Gustav Vasa and John III. Famous people like Carl Linnaeus, Olaus Rudbeck, and Emanuel Swedenborg are also buried here.
The church was designed in the French Gothic style by French architects, including Étienne de Bonneuil. It looks like a Latin cross from above. Most of it was built between 1272 and 1420. The two tall towers at the front were added later. After a big fire in 1702, the spires on the towers were changed. Then, in the 1880s, Helgo Zetterwall made big changes to the building. The cathedral is mostly made of brick, but its pillars and other parts are made of Gotland limestone.
The arched ceilings were built following the original 13th-century plans. Many old church items can be seen in the Treasury Museum. The 1702 fire destroyed many parts of the church. During repairs in the 1970s, old medieval paintings that had been covered up were found and restored.
Contents
History of Uppsala Cathedral
Building a New Cathedral
At the end of the Viking Age, a Christian church replaced the old pagan temple in Gamla Uppsala. This was about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of today's Uppsala. In 1164, Sweden got its own archbishopric, with its main church in Lund. The first archbishop for Sweden was Stefan of Alvastra.
After a fire damaged the church in Gamla Uppsala in 1204, church leaders asked the Pope for permission to move the main church to a bigger place. Pope Alexander IV agreed in 1258. He said the name "Uppsala" must stay. In 1270, it was decided the new church would be in Östra Aros, which is where Uppsala is now.
Around 1272, work began on the new cathedral in Östra Aros, near the Fyris River. It was built on the site of an older stone church. This was the spot where Sweden's patron saint, Eric Jedvardsson, was killed in 1160. The name Uppsala was kept, and Östra Aros soon became Uppsala. In 1273, Saint Eric's important relics were moved from Gamla Uppsala to the new church.
French architects designed the church. One important builder was Étienne de Bonneuil, who came from Paris in 1287. Building was slow because of the cold weather, diseases like the plague, and money problems. The main parts of the church were not finished until the late 1300s.
Completion and Changes Over Time
When Archbishop Olaus Laurentii officially opened the cathedral in 1435, it was still not fully complete. It was dedicated to three saints: Saint Lawrence, Saint Eric, and Saint Olaf. The last main parts, the towers, were built between 1470 and 1489.
The cathedral was damaged by fire many times. A very big fire in 1702 destroyed much of the city and the church. It took many years to repair it.
Before the Protestant Reformation, ordinary people did not usually worship in the cathedral. It was mainly for official church services. The local churches for people were elsewhere in Uppsala. The cathedral was also the place where many Swedish kings and queens were crowned. This tradition lasted from the Middle Ages until 1719. After that, Stockholm's Storkyrkan became the main coronation church.
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From 1885 to 1893, architect Helgo Zettervall made huge changes to the cathedral. He wanted it to look more like a French High Gothic church. He added tall, pointed spires to the towers, making the cathedral as tall as it was long. Zettervall also changed many of the old brick walls.
In the early 1970s, more repairs were done to make the building stronger. Some of Zettervall's additions were removed because they were harming the old structure. In 1989, Pope John Paul II visited and took part in a special service. New fire safety systems were installed in 2010.
Architecture and Design
How the Cathedral Looks
Uppsala Cathedral is the tallest church in all of Scandinavia. It is 118.7 m (389 ft) tall and also 118.7 m (389 ft) long. It is 45 m (148 ft) wide. Inside, the ceiling is 27 metres (89 ft) high. French builders designed the church in the French High Gothic style.
The church is built on a gravel hill near the Fyris River. Its floor plan looks like a Latin cross. It has a main central area called a nave with two side aisles. There are also transepts (the arms of the cross) and a chancel at the east end with five chapels around it. The nave has seven sections, with small chapels on each side.
Most of the church was built between 1270 and 1420. However, the western part of the nave and the towers took many more decades to finish. The main material used is red brick. But the church has a stone foundation, and the chancel pillars and many details are made of Gotland limestone. The nave pillars were originally brick but were changed to limestone during Zettervall's work.
Towers and Exterior Changes
The two towers at the west end of the church were first mentioned in 1563. After a fire in 1572, more parts were added to the church's outside and inside. The first spires on the west towers were designed by Antonius Watz. In the 1690s, Nicodemus Tessin designed a new burial chapel. This was the biggest change to the cathedral's plan since the Middle Ages.
In the 1600s, the towers were redesigned in the Dutch Renaissance style. But after the big fire of 1702, they were replaced with low wooden tops for a while. The strong supports on the outside, called flying buttresses, were removed. This made the cathedral look plainer. In 1740, copper-covered spires were added, designed by Carl Hårleman. Today's tall towers are the work of Helgo Zettervall, who rebuilt them in the 1880s.
Even though French architects designed it, Uppsala Cathedral is different from French cathedrals. It is mostly built of brick, not stone. Brick was easy to find nearby, but stone had to be brought from far away. Because brick is not as strong as stone, the walls had to be thicker. The pillars supporting the chancel ceiling are limestone, but the nave pillars were brick. The large rose window over the north entrance, built around 1330, is still completely French.
The nave, built later, shows some German and Swedish styles. The master builder Nikolaus from Västerås added side chapels and some German features. However, the ceilings still have Cross-vaults, not the star-shaped vaults that were popular then. The west entrance, started in 1431, was influenced by Vadstena Abbey. Overall, Uppsala Cathedral still looks like the 13th-century cathedrals of northern France.
Inside the Cathedral
The Coronation Vault is 27 m (89 ft) above where the transept crosses the nave. Most Swedish kings and queens were crowned here until 1719. During the 1880s repairs, the inside walls and ceiling were decorated in a Neo-Gothic style. Some new pictures were added, like one of Martin Luther. In the 1970s, many old medieval paintings that had been covered up were found and restored.
The high altar is used for important church services. All Swedish bishops are ordained here. The silver chandelier is from 1647. A large cross made of silver and crystal was added in 1976.
Chapels and Art
The largest chapel is the Vasa Chapel, at the east end of the chancel. It was once called the Chapel of the Virgin Mary. It became the burial place for Gustav Vasa and his family. It has the national symbols of Sweden and some of the oldest Swedish and Finnish coats of arms.
The Finsta Chapel, or St Eric's Chapel, holds the relics of Eric the Holy. He was killed in 1160 where the cathedral now stands. His shrine was moved from Gamla Uppsala. In 1580, King John III replaced his old shrine with a new gold-plated one. This new shrine still holds Eric's relics and crown. The Finsta Chapel is also where Judge Birger Persson and his wife were buried in 1328. A small gold-plated shrine with a relic of their daughter, Saint Bridget, was added in 1990.
Next to the Finsta Chapel is the Sture Chapel. This is a memorial for three members of the Sture family. They were killed by King Eric XIV in 1567. The altar screen from 1520 shows the story of Mary's parents, Anne and Joachim.
At the end of the 1500s, the church's sacristy was changed into a burial chapel for Queen Catherine Jagiellon. She was the wife of King John III, who is also buried there. This chapel is called the Jagellonica Chapel after her.
Windows and Treasury
Many windows still have their original shape. Most of the old stained-glass windows were lost in the 1702 fire and replaced with plain glass. The beautiful stained-glass designs you see today were added during the repairs in the late 1800s. The large windows above the entrances show the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The rose window at the north entrance is the oldest, from the 13th century.
The Treasury Museum is in the north tower. It has many gold and silver items used in church services. There is also a collection of old clothes, including Queen Margaret's golden gown. You can also see the burial clothes of Gustav Vasa, John III, and their wives.
Other important items in the cathedral include tapestries from 1976. These show important events in the cathedral's history. The fancy pulpit from 1710 is the largest in Sweden. It was designed by Nicodemus Tessin and carved by Burchard Precht. It was a gift from Queen Hedvig Eleonora after the 1702 fire.
One of the new bells installed after the 1702 fire is called Thornan. It was taken from Toruń, Poland, as a war prize in 1703 by Swedish forces during the Great Northern War.
In the Vasa Chapel, there are seven large paintings by Johan Gustaf Sandberg. They show important moments in Gustav Vasa's life. One famous painting shows him giving a speech. Paintings also decorate the arched ceilings of the nave.
In the 1400s, paintings of figures and decorative leaves were added to different parts of the church. Some of these have been found and restored. The paintings in the chancel were likely done by artists from Albertus Pictor's workshop.
Famous People Buried Here
Many Swedish monarchs and other important people are buried inside Uppsala Cathedral:
- Gustav Vasa: A 16th-century King of Sweden. He is buried with his three wives in what was once the Chapel of the Virgin Mary.
- John III: Gustav Vasa's second son, who died in 1592. He and his second wife, Gunilla Bielke, are buried in the Virgin Mary Chapel. His first wife, Catherine Jagiellon, has her own burial chapel.
- Princess Elizabeth: Gustav Vasa's youngest daughter, who died in 1597. She is buried in the Finsta Chapel.
- The noblemen Svante Sture and his sons Nils and Erik: They were all killed by King Erik XIV in 1567. They are buried in the Sture Chapel. Their clothes from that day are in the Treasury Museum.
- Carl Linnaeus: A world-famous botanist and professor from the 1700s. His memorial is near the Chapel of Remembrance.
- Charles De Geer: An industrialist and scientist who studied insects.
- Olaus Rudbeck: A Swedish scientist who helped discover the lymphatic system.
- Emanuel Swedenborg: An 18th-century scientist and spiritual thinker. His remains were moved here from England in 1908.
- Nathan Söderblom: Archbishop of Uppsala and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. His tomb is at the steps of the high altar.
- Eric the Saint: A 12th-century king and national saint. His relics are in the Finsta Chapel.
- Laurentius Petri: Sweden's first Lutheran archbishop. He is buried at the altar steps.
- Saint Bridget: Her relics are in a shrine in the Finsta Chapel.
Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial
There is a small memorial for Dag Hammarskjöld in the cathedral. He was a former Secretary-General of the United Nations and won the Nobel Peace Prize after he died. A stone has this message:
- Icke jag
- utan Gud i mig
- Dag Hammarskjöld 1905 – 1961
In English, this means "Not I, but God in me."
Visiting Uppsala Cathedral
The cathedral is in the center of Uppsala. It is open to visitors most days from 8 am to 6 pm. The Treasury Museum in the north tower is open from 10 am to 4 pm, and from 12:30 pm on Sundays.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Upsala para niños
- Archbishop of Uppsala
- Church of Sweden
- Temple at Uppsala
