Scotland and Stockholm 2013: Gamla Uppsala

Our second day in Sweden (Sunday June 23) was spent looking around old Uppsala.

Gamla Uppsala (old town Uppsala) is very old. Medieval Scandinavians considered it very important and it is said that Odin lived here. People have been buried here for two thousand years. There used to be up to 3000 burial mounds here, only about 250 remain. We visited the Royal Mounds dating from the 5th and 6th centuries thought to hold the remains of three kings of the legendary House of Ynglings. This site was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1989 and a large stone marker has been placed where he gave a sermon.

The Royal Mounds

Viking Rune Stone

Gamla Uppsala also has a number of Viking era rune stones. Many of them have been moved from their original locations. There are some of these rune stones standing outside of the Church of Old Uppsala which is said to be built on the site of ancient temple where human sacrifices were made. Some of the rune stones are also built into the walls of the church.

Rune Stone in wall of Old Uppsala Church

The church of old Uppsla dates from the 12th century. It's small but very interesting. I was amazed by the display of old books and bibles at the back of the church because not only were they exceedingly old, but out where visitors could touch them. Really incredible! There was an oak chest in the church carved from a single oak log, said to be at least as old as the church.