Universitetshuset was built in the 1880s, with Universitetsparken laid out in front of it. Its design reflects the romantic ideal of a park that prevailed in the late 1800s.
The then rector and botanist Thore Fries wanted an educational park in the spirit of Linnaeus. He had a variety of trees planted so the young students could go out and learn to recognise them. Today there are nearly 100 trees of more than 40 species. More than half the trees were planted when the park was laid out. Several are strange mutations of common trees with unusual leaf shapes and colours.
Garden with popular entertainment
There was a walled garden as early as the 1700s. At that time, there were no university buildings, but there was a military training establishment called Exercitiegården. Here students could learn riding, fencing, languages and dancing. Public displays of gymnastics and athletics were still being arranged as late as the beginning of the 1800s.
Runes and a history professor
There are also six runestones, found in Uppland, and in the middle of the park there is a statue from 1888 of the poet Erik Gustaf Geijer, who was also a professor of history at the University of Uppsala.
The Universitetsparken setting is a Swedish cultural heritage site.
Rosehip, buttercup or Linnea? Make our floral tests based on knowledge from both Linnaeus botany and Jungian psychology. Go to the test.
Step right into the 18th century and the home of Carl Linnaeus.