Three miles (5km) north of Uppsala, Gamla Uppsala was once an important town, the seat of Swedish royalty and where many important funerals were held. The Uppsala temple oversaw rites and sacrifices to the Norse gods in the pre-Christian era, and it was said that Odin himself resided there. As Christianity overtook Europe, the temple was burned and the stone church of Gamla Uppsala was built in the 12th century. The church still stands today, along with a vast grave field of 2-3,000 ancient burial mounds, and the remains of several houses. Gamla Uppsala also has a small museum detailing the rich history of the town. The town is accessible from Uppsala by bus.

Telephone: (0)18 23 93 00

Opening times: Museum: daily 11am-5pm May to August; Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 12-3pm September to April. Church: daily 9am-6pm April to September; 9am-4pm October to March.

Admission: Museum: SEK 50