Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
18 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
19 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
21 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
22 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Sweden Uppsala Universitetshuset Runestone Circle

Universitetshuset Runestone Circle

A large collection of ancient runestones decorates this university courtyard.

Uppsala, Sweden

Added By
CoolCrab
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The park.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
The park.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
A rune carver’s first runestone. Note the asymmetric shapes.   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Runestone commemorating the building of a bridge for a deceased daughter.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
Runestone in the garden circle   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Sweden has a long and proud history of runestones and rune carvers; for hundreds of years, these inscribed stone slabs were used as a way to immortalize warriors, families, or important events. These carved monuments are dotted across the land and usually require a trek to reach. The board of Uppsala University thought so too, so decided to move the runestones to them for convenience.

The Universitetshuset (or University House) at Uppsala was built in 1887 as a central hub of the school. Here professors and staff could convene for important gatherings or traditional festivities. The center was seen as a very significant building, even the face of the university. For this reason, no costs or efforts were spared to add to the stature of the building, including its beautiful courtyard. 

Various rare trees were planted in the Universitetshuset park, each with a little sign denoting the species and origin. Even more interestingly, a set of around 10 ancient runestones were collected from neighboring areas and installed around the garden as extravagant decorations, connecting the science and wisdom of old with that of the new. 

These days people vary in opinion on this act, as the runestone loses part of its significance when taken away from the location that it remembers. But others argue that it does make Swedish history and culture more easily available to the general public. Whatever your opinion may be on this, it is hard to deny the impressiveness of these works of art and not stop to look at them. Fortunately, there are also signs that translate the runes, date them, and explain the meaning behind the text.

Related Tags

Ancient Monuments Language Universities Parks Vikings Archaeology Culture

Know Before You Go

The university park is free to access. The stones are right behind the Gustavianum Museum, so make sure to visit both when in the neighborhood.

Community Contributors

Added By

CoolCrab

Edited By

gretchenmora

  • gretchenmora

Published

April 18, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://sv.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universitetshuset,_Uppsala
Universitetshuset Runestone Circle
Biskopsgatan 3
Uppsala
Sweden
59.85834, 17.631408
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Anders Celsius's Thermometer

Uppsala, Sweden

miles away

Gustavianum Museum

Uppsala, Sweden

miles away

Rune Staff Collection

Uppsala, Sweden

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Uppsala

Uppsala

Sweden

Places 15
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Anders Celsius's Thermometer

Uppsala, Sweden

miles away

Gustavianum Museum

Uppsala, Sweden

miles away

Rune Staff Collection

Uppsala, Sweden

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Uppsala

Uppsala

Sweden

Places 15
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Uppland Runic Inscription 53

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Uppland Runic Inscription 53

    An ancient Viking runestone hidden in plain view in Stockholm's old town.

  • View of Badbury Rings from above

    Dorset, England

    Badbury Rings

    An Iron Age hill fort turned scenic nature park.

  • Ballymeanoch Standing Stones set out in two parallel rows

    Kilmartin, Scotland

    Ballymeanoch Prehistoric Monuments

    This Neolithic-era complex boasts standing stones, a cairn, and the only henge in Western Scotland.

  • Thornborough Henges from above

    West Tanfield, England

    Thornborough Henges

    This collection of ancient structures makes up part of the largest group of prehistoric earthworks in Britain.

  • Polé (Xcaret Archaeological Site)

    Playa del Carmen, Mexico

    Polé (Xcaret Archaeological Site)

    One of Mexico's least-visited archaeological sites is tucked away inside a theme park.

  • Ruins of the Old Stone Fort walls.

    Manchester, Tennessee

    Old Stone Fort

    This limestone outcropping was once a ceremonial site for ancient Native Americans.

  • The three bulls of Costitx.

    Madrid, Spain

    Costitx Bulls

    These ancient artifacts are a testament to the enduring significance of the bull in Spanish culture.

  • One of the Olmec stone heads believed to depict ancient kings.

    Xalapa, Mexico

    Xalapa Museum of Anthropology

    The largest collection of artifacts from the Olmec civilization, the mother culture of Mesoamerica.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.