I continue my promenade towards the University building where many Swedish celebrities left their mark e.g. the botanist Carl Linnaeus and the authors August Strindberg and Betty Pettersson.
After a quick peek into the stunning university building I continue my walk towards Åsgränd where Pelle Svanslös (Pelle the cat with no tail) was living in Gösta Knutsson’s (1908-1973) story books. Gösta Knutsson was chairman of Uppsala’s Student Union which is around the corner.
The back of the University building is adjacent to Övre slottsgatan where one of Sweden's most famous writers lived in his student years. His name was August Strindberg and he lived between the years of 1849-1912. This is where Strindberg got his inspiration to the blockbuster novel "The Red Room" which depicting student life in Uppsala.
I continue my walk up towards St:Olofsgatan and arrive at Uppsala’s cathedral cemetery. Here lie beloved writers and poets such as Gustav Fröding and Gösta Knutsson but also the theological mystic and former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld.
The Geijersresidence is situated a few minutes walk from the cemetery. This is where Erik Gustaf Geijer (1783-1847) lived and worked. He is seen by many as one of the greatest inspirer to the Swedish romance. He was, among other things professor of history at Uppsala University and later became the principal. Subsequently, he became a member of the Swedish Academy.
The famous poet Karin Boye (1900-1941) also lived in Geijersgården.
Karin Boye was an active student at Uppsala University and studied among other things Greek, Scandinavian languages and Literature. She is a well known poet but also as a writer with several novels and essays.
On top of “Slottsbacken” stands the great University Library, Carolina Rediviva, which means "The re-resurrected Carolina" in latin.
Here are many antique documents and works preserved for example Vadstenadiariet (The Vadstena Register) , Silverbibeln ( The Silver Bible) and parts of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s notes.
I cross the street and walk up the great hill towards Uppsalas castle. On the left side of the hill stands a statue representing Gunnar Wennerberg (1817-1901) who wrote the song collection Gluntarne.
Once on top of the castle courtyard you get a great view over the city. Straight ahead is the University’s Botanical Garden. It was built in 1655 by Olof Rudbeck the older and is Sweden's oldest botanical garden.
The castle was built by Gustav Vasa in 1549. This is where Dag Hammarskjölds father was governor. Even today the County Governor of Uppsala is living in the castle.
On the way down from the castle, I get a glimpse of the beautiful swan pond before I continue my walk towards Trädgårdsgatan. This is where the studentnation Östgöta nation is situated. Examples of famous members connected to the nation is: The famous author Albert Engström (1869) and comedian and writer Tage Danielsson (1928-1985)
A few minutes walk along the street I pass Gästrike-Hälsinglands nation. Nathan Söderblom was first curator and subsequently inspector at this nation. Söderblom became a world-renowned theologian and was later to become the Swedish Church’s Archbishop.
Further down the street, at Trädgårdsgatan, is where the famous director Ingmar Bergman lived as a child. His childhood in Uppsala later inspired him to his most famous epic "Fanny and Alexander".
I cross the street towards Drottninggatan where the student nation Stockholm’s nation is situated. The troubadour Carl Michel Bellman (1740-1795) and author August Strindberg were enrolled here.
When my day is coming to an end I am full of unforgettable impressions and squirm over having to leave the historical city of Uppsala.
