En Uppsala, which is a city located about 78 km northwest of Stockholm and the fourth largest city in Sweden after Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo, is its famous Cathedral called Domkyrka, the largest in all of Scandinavia.
It has a Gothic structure standing 400 meters high and features an impressive interior with the relics of Saint Erik, several notable tombs, and a small museum of ecclesiastical treasures.
History
Begun in 1287, the Uppsala Cathedral replaced the old, smaller cathedral in Gamla Uppsala. Intended to outshine Norway's colossal Nidaros Cathedral, which took more than a century to complete. Uppsala Cathedral was dedicated to Lorenzo Santos (of playing field fame), Erik (patron saint of Sweden), and Olaf (patron saint of Norway).
The cathedral was consecrated in 1435, with some construction work still continuing afterwards. It was badly damaged in 1702 in a terrible fire and restored near the turn of the 20th century. The twin towers in the late 19th century additions.
What to see
Uppsala Domkyrka is made of local brick, giving the structure a unique red color that illuminates the landscape in winter, and glows at sunset in summer. Its tower reaches 394 feet (120 meters) high.
The architectural highlight of the impressive interior is the French Gothic ambulatory, which is surrounded by small chapels and bathed in a golden light.
A 14th century chapel contains murals depicting the legend of Saint Erik, the patron saint of Sweden. The scenes show his coronation, the crusade to Finland, and the eventual execution at the hands of the Danes. You can visit the relics of Saint Erik, buried in a golden coffin, in a chapel of the nave.
Other tombs of important figures in the cathedral include the rebellious Reformation King Gustav Vasa, his son Johan III, the botanist Linnaeus, and Swedenborg's philosopher and theologian, and Sweden's first Lutheran archbishop, Laurentius Petri. There is also a small monument to Dag Hammarskiöld, the former General Secretary.
There is also a small museum in the cathedral displaying ecclesiastical relics. Outside, take a look at the cathedral cemetery, which features many interesting headstones carved with runes.