With a population of nearly 145 000, Uppsala is the fourth largest city of Sweden. Many of its residents commute to Stockholm, which is located no more than a 40 minute train ride from Uppsla. It is also possible to get from Uppsala to Arlanda Airport in less than 20 minutes by train.
Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is one of the oldest centre of higher education in Scandinavia. Partly due to its legacy of teaching and research, Uppsala is today home to several influential companies and research institutions within the field of medicine and biotechnology.
Uppsala has been an ecclesiastical centre since the 12th century.
Prior to that, Medieval writer Adam of Bremen described it as an important pagan centre. The Temple at Uppsala did for instance contain magnificent idols depicting various Norse Gods. Today, the most noticeable building in the city is Uppsala Cathedal, the largest church in Scandinavia. It is almost 390 feet high and visible from most parts of town.
