![Uppsala cathedral, northern side, from the Fyris river](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Uppsala_cathedral%2C_northern_side%2C_from_the_Fyris_river.jpg)
Fjärdingen is a neighbourhood in the inner city of
Uppsala
Uppsala (, or all ending in , ; archaically spelled ''Upsala'') is the county seat of Uppsala County and the fourth-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. It had 177,074 inhabitants in 2019.
Located north of the c ...
,
Sweden, situated on the western banks of the river
Fyris
Fyrisån (, "the Fyris river") is a river in the Swedish province of Uppland, which passes through the city of Uppsala and ends in Lake Mälaren.
The "Sala" river in Uppland was changed in the 17th century in memory of the Fyrisvellir battle, ...
. It has been the ecclesiastical centre of Sweden since the 13th century and contains many of the historical sights and landmarks of Uppsala, notably
Uppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Cathedral ( sv, Uppsala domkyrka) is a cathedral located between the University Hall of Uppsala University and the Fyris river in the centre of Uppsala, Sweden. A church of the Church of Sweden, the national church, in the Lutheran t ...
on the ''Domberget'' hill, with the
Archbishop's residence and
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden ( sv, Svenska kyrkan) is an Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. A former state church, headquartered in Uppsala, with around 5.6 million members at year end 2021, it is the largest Christian denomination in Sw ...
offices, as well as the historical university district of Sweden's oldest university,
Uppsala University
Uppsala University ( sv, Uppsala universitet) is a public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in operation.
The university rose to significance during ...
. Notable university buildings in the area include
University Hall,
Gustavianum
Gustavianum is the oldest standing building of Uppsala University. It was built between 1622 and 1625, and used as the main building of the university between 1778 and 1887. Since 1997 it is used as the university museum of Uppsala University.
H ...
and
Carolina Rediviva
Carolina Rediviva is the main building of the Uppsala University Library in Uppsala, Sweden. The building was begun in 1820 and completed in 1841. The original architect was Carl Fredrik Sundvall. Later additions to the building have been designed ...
, as well as most of the
student nation
Student nations or simply nations ( la, natio meaning "being born") are regional corporations of students at a university. Once widespread across Europe in medieval times, they are now largely restricted to the oldest universities of Sweden and Fin ...
buildings. To the south,
Uppsala Castle
Uppsala Castle ( sv, Uppsala slott) is a 16th-century royal castle in the city of Uppsala, Sweden. Throughout much of its early existence, the castle played a major role in the history of Sweden. Originally constructed in 1549, the castle has bee ...
, the
University Hospital
A university hospital is an institution which combines the services of a hospital with the education of medical students and with medical research. These hospitals are typically affiliated with a medical school or university. The following i ...
and the Stadsträdgården city park form the boundary of the historical inner city.
Boundaries
Fjärdingen's natural border to the north-east is the River Fyris; to the south-east the neighbourhood is limited by Sjukhusvägen and the southern end of the city park, to the south-west by Dag Hammarskjölds väg and Kyrkogårdsgatan and to the north-west by Skolgatan.
There are several bridge crossings over to the modern city centre. Further south along the opposite side of the river, to the south-east of Fjärdingen, is
Kungsängen
Kungsängen ( en, King’s Meadow) is a locality and the seat of Upplands-Bro Municipality
Upplands-Bro Municipality (''Upplands-Bro kommun'') is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Kungs ...
. To the south of Uppsala Castle and the University Hospital along the river is
Polacksbacken. To the south-west is
Kåbo and to the north-west is
Luthagen.
Map
with map layers for 2017 and proposed new administrative subdivisions. Uppsala municipality
Uppsala Municipality (''Uppsala kommun'') is a municipality in Uppsala County in east central Sweden. Uppsala has a population of 211,411 (2016-06-30). Its seat is located in the university city of Uppsala.
Uppsala Municipality was created throu ...
. The toponym ''Främre'' (Near) Luthagen is sometimes applied to the area between Luthagsesplanaden and Skolgatan.
In the early 19th century, the entirety of the city of Uppsala used to encompass the three inner city neighbourhoods of Fjärdingen west of the river, Svartbäcken east of the river north of Stora torget and Kungsängen to the south of Stora torget. Today, the toponyms ''Svartbäcken'' and ''Kungsängen'' are mainly used for the neighbourhoods further to the north and south of Stora torget, respectively, as the city centre around Stora torget is considered an administrative subdivision in its own right, also unofficially known as ''Dragarbrunn''.
Streets, places and parks
Domberget
Uppsala Cathedral on ''Domberget'', the cathedral hill, is the city's main landmark since its construction in the 13th century and the seat of the Primate of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, the Archbishop of Uppsala. The remains of the medieval fortifications surrounding the cathedral have been incorporated into later buildings, partially encircling the cathedral. Across from the main western entrance to the cathedral is Gustavianum, the former main building of Uppsala University which today remains in use by the university as a lecture building and university museum. The Gustavianum cupola contains a restored baroque anatomical theatre
An anatomical theatre (Latin: ) was a specialised building or room, resembling a theatre, used in teaching anatomy at early modern universities. They were typically constructed with a tiered structure surrounding a central table, allowing a lar ...
, the second oldest remaining of its kind in the world.
Drottninggatan
Drottninggatan is the main avenue and shopping street in the area, leading southwest from the modern city centre across River Fyris and past Fyristorg uphill to the university library, Carolina Rediviva. The final climb uphill through the park landscape to the library is commonly referred to as ''Carolinabacken'', the site of yearly student festivities during the traditional Valborg celebrations on April 30.
Sysslomansgatan / Västra Ågatan
Sysslomansgatan/Västra Ågatan are the main north-south business streets, running parallel to the river past Fyristorg and joining at Sankt Olofsgatan. The former University Mill building presently houses a restaurant and the Upplandsmuseet
''Upplandsmuseet'' is the county museum of Uppsala County, Sweden.
The institution is responsible for preservation and conducting research in the area of the cultural history and archaeology of the county, including the city of Uppsala (parts o ...
regional museum. The triangular Sankt Eriks torg north of the cathedral is home to Uppsala's market hall. The southern end of Sysslomansgatan at the intersection with Sankt Olofsgatan has been the site of Uppsala's oldest café, Ofvandahls, since 1878.
University Park
The University Park with the monument to Erik Gustaf Geijer
Erik Gustaf Geijer (12 January 1783 – 23 April 1847) was a Swedish writer, historian, poet, romantic critic of political economy, philosopher, and composer. His writings served to promote Swedish National Romanticism. He was an influential ...
is situated centrally in the neighbourhood, a short distance west of the cathedral. The main building of the university and the park was created in the 19th century on the site of the former Archbishop's Castle and the baroque horse riding courts. University Hall, Gustavianum, the Archbishop's Residence, Södermanlands-Nerikes nation
Södermanlands-Nerikes Nation (usually called Snerikes) is one of the 13 student nations of Uppsala University. The nation claims its founding to be in 1548 when the original Södermanlands nation was founded, this nation merged with the Nerikes ...
, Smålands nation and the Church of Sweden office building are situated around the park. Other student societies in the area between Sankt Olofsgatan and Skolgatan north of the University Park include Uplands nation, Västmanlands-Dala nation and Kalmar nation.
Övre Slottsgatan
The western part of the neighbourhood is situated around Övre Slottsgatan, which contains many well-preserved 18th century and 19th century buildings. The street runs from Skolgatan in the northern part of the district to Carolina Rediviva. At its midpoint, adjacent to, and matching the length of, the University Hall of Uppsala University
Uppsala University ( sv, Uppsala universitet) is a public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in operation.
The university rose to significance during ...
, the street widens to form a tree-shaded open space, named "Martin Luther Kings plan". The space, shaped like a church, includes the large metal art installation ''Befrielsen'' (''Liberation''), by local artist Olof Hellström, depicting Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968 ...
's efforts (plan) to pull apart the bars restricting civil rights.
Odinslund
South of the cathedral, the Odinslund park connects Carolina Rediviva and the cathedral hill. In front of the entrance to the Archbishop's residence there is a small statue commemorating Nobel Peace Price Laureate and Archbishop Nathan Söderblom
Lars Olof Jonathan Söderblom (; 15 January 1866 – 12 July 1931) was a Swedish clergyman. He was the Church of Sweden Archbishop of Uppsala between 1914 and 1931, and recipient of the 1930 Nobel Peace Prize. He is commemorated in the Cale ...
. The Holy Trinity Church is situated next to the park, the only other remaining medieval church in the historical inner city apart from the cathedral itself. The obelisk in front of the church was raised in 1832 during the reign of King Charles XIV John of Sweden to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lützen and the death of King Gustav II Adolph. The 18th century palace south of the cathedral has been known as Dekanhuset since the 1930s. It housed the controversial State Institute for Racial Biology during the interwar period in the 1920s and 1930s. Presently it is used by the National Property Board of Sweden
The National Property Board of Sweden ( sv, Statens fastighetsverk, SFV) is a Swedish State administrative authority, organised under the Ministry of Finance.
SFV is responsible for managing a portion of the real property assets owned by the St ...
.
Valvgatan and Riddartorget
A short cobbled street, Valvgatan, connects the Dombron bridge and Fyristorg with Riddartorget, the open place in front of the stairs leading up to the southern cathedral entrance. A vaulted underpass leads under the historical Skytteanum building, traditionally home to the Skyttean Professor of Eloquence and Government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is ...
since the 1620s. Other buildings situated in the block between Riddartorget and Drottninggatan include Värmlands nation, Oxenstierna House with the Faculty of Law and Stockholms nation
Stockholms nation is a student society and one of thirteen nations at Uppsala University. The nation has its origins in the mid-17th century and regards 1649 as its official date of foundation, although this is uncertain. A document in the archi ...
.
Nedre Fjärdingen
Trädgårdsgatan leads from Riddartorget to the south through the neighbourhood Nedre ''(Lower)'' Fjärdingen. Trädgårdsgatan south of Drottninggatan is home to many student societies, among them Gästrike-Hälsinge nation
Gästrike-Hälsinge Nation, colloquially known as GH, is an association of university students in Uppsala, Sweden, primarily from Uppsala University but also for students from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The nation first and ...
, Östgöta nation, Västgöta nation and Norrlands nation
Norrlands nation is a student society and the largest of thirteen nations at Uppsala University. It mainly recruits its members from the province of Norrland, which is the northernmost part of Sweden. As of 2012, the nation has about 8,000 membe ...
. Svandammen, the swan pond below the castle, is the southern limit of the inner city; here the city park, the University Hospital grounds and Uppsala Castle on top of Kasåsen have limited urban expansion. Svandammen has been the entertainment and recreation district of Uppsala since the 19th century, with the ''Stadsträdgården'' city park and the Parksnäckan outdoor concert venue, the former student gymnastics building as well as several cafés and restaurants, among them ''Flustret'' which is the oldest nightclub in Uppsala, founded in 1842.
In film and literature
As the district of Sweden's oldest university, Fjärdingen features prominently in Swedish literature
Swedish literature () refers to literature written in the Swedish language or by writers from Sweden.
The first literary text from Sweden is the Rök runestone, carved during the Viking Age circa 800 AD. With the conversion of the land to Chri ...
. August Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg (, ; 22 January 184914 May 1912) was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter.Lane (1998), 1040. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg wrote more than sixty p ...
wrote of his recollections of university life in the short story collection ''From Fjerdingen and Svartbäcken'' (1877). The writer and poet Karin Boye
Karin Maria Boye (; 26 October 1900 – 24 April 1941) was a Swedish poet and novelist. In Sweden she is acclaimed as a poet, but internationally she is best known for the dystopian science fiction novel '' Kallocain'' (1940).
Career
Boye wa ...
lived in Fjärdingen during her undergraduate studies in Uppsala and wrote several works partially inspired by her own student experience. Gösta Knutsson
Gösta Lars August Knutsson (original surname Johansson; 12 October 1908, in Stockholm – 4 April 1973) was a Swedish radio producer and writer of a popular series of children's books about the cat ''Pelle Svanslös''.
Gösta Knutsson was born ...
's (1908–1973) children's book series about the cat Pelle No-Tail are mainly set in Fjärdingen, as are some of crime writer Kjell Eriksson
'Kjell Sylve Eriksson (born 1953 in Uppsala) is a Swedish writer, author of the detective chief inspector Ann Lindell crime novels. ''Den upplysta stigen'' (“Shining path”), the first of the Lindell series, was named Best First Novel of 1999 ...
's Ann Lindell novels.
Some scenes for the 2011 Hollywood adaptation of ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'' (original title in sv, Män som hatar kvinnor , lit=''Men Who Hate Women'') is a psychological thriller novel by Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson (1954–2004). It was published posthumously in 2 ...
'' were shot in Fjärdingen. Ingmar Bergman spent part of his childhood at his grandmother's apartment in Trädgårdsgatan and watched his first silent films in the Slottsbiografen cinema, which has been restored to its early 20th century state and today is used for events. His semi-autobiographical work ''Fanny and Alexander
''Fanny and Alexander'' ( sv, Fanny och Alexander) is a 1982 period drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. The plot focuses on two siblings and their large family in Uppsala, Sweden during the first decade of the twentieth century. ...
'' was also partially shot in Fjärdingen, with the University Mill doubling as the home of the severe bishop.
Notable people
* Ingmar Bergman, director, was born in Uppsala and spent part of his early years at his grandmother's apartment in Trädgårdsgatan 12.
* Dag Hammarskjöld
Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld ( , ; 29 July 1905 – 18 September 1961) was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the second Secretary-General of the United Nations from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 196 ...
(1905–1961), U.N. Secretary-General, lived as a child in the governor's residence of Uppsala Castle.
References
{{coord missing, Sweden
Neighbourhoods of Uppsala