A day tour of the University town of Lund, Sweden
All Saints Church, Lund, Sweden (ISO 500, 24 mm, f/8, 1/640 s)
(Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you click through and take action, I'll be compensated.) If you are also interested in any PRINTS from any of my posts, be sure to check out my store where you can buy prints as posters, in metal/wooden frames or on canvas.
Lund is one of the two university towns in Sweden (the other being Uppsala). That means it is at its most lively when school is in session. Interestingly enough, its founding dates all the way back to 990 when it was then a part of Denmark (there have been so many wars fought between these Scandinavian neighbors that at one point Denmark ruled everything, and then Sweden did, and then repeat).
Though the highlight of the town is the University itself, Lund has become a bit of a hub for high tech industry. What makes the town so appealing has to be its abundance of parks and green spaces. This is probably no accident as this greenery is most conducive to student life and the overall appreciation the Swedes have for the outdoors.
My trip here in mid-February could have been marred by bad weather but it turned out to be relatively mild outside. I took a stroll around the city and found it very walkable and it had a nice friendly vibe overall. Even stopping by for coffee at an Espresso House (the Scandinavian equal to Starbucks but MUCH better), the staff and friendliness of everyone was palpable. I think this had something to do with the sunshine outside as well.
Check out my drone video of Lund, Sweden below!
Lund is quite close to Malmö so you can easily reach the city for a nice day trip around the town. You can get here by taking an SJ train (Sweden’s main train company) from other major Swedish cities like Göteborg (Gothenburg) and Stockholm.
If you happen to have more time in Sweden, don’t just stop at Lund, check out other Sweden cities such as:
Stockholm (Blog Post Title: Why Stockholm is the best Scandinavian capital)
Stockholm Tunnelbana (Blog Post Title: The World’s Longest Art Gallery - Riding on the Stockholm Tunnelbana)
Gothenburg (Göteborg) (Blog Post Title: A Tour of Gothenburg: Sweden's 2nd Largest City)
Uppsala (Blog Post: Uppsala: the hidden gem just North of Stockholm)
Helsingborg (Blog Post: Just a few reasons to see Helsingborg in the South of Sweden)
Malmö (Blog Post: Take a weekend break in Malmö, Sweden)
Kalmar (Blog Post: Kalmar: The town you should know more about in Sweden)
Öland (Blog Post: A Day Tour of the Swedish island of Öland)
Marstrand (Blog Post: A day trip to the Swedish island of Marstrand)
Swedish Castles (Blog Post: A Tour of Sweden’s Coolest Castles)
Fårö (Blog Post: A Guide to the Swedish Island of Fårö)
Visby (Blog Post: A Closer Look at the Hanseatic Town of Visby)
Gotland (Blog Post: A Guide to the Swedish Island of Gotland)
Lund, Sweden (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/8, 1/640 s)
The convenient thing about Lund is that it is small and compact. There are plenty of things to do without you having to walk miles. As soon as you get off at the train station, you may start to notice all the cyclist about, quite a common sight for a university city. Another thing you may notice, that I loved, was the abundant cobblestoned streets. It gives the city a very charming feel.
Lund, Sweden (ISO 400, 47 mm, f/8, 1/400 s)
The All Saints Church is directly within eyeshot of the train station and is obviously where I first went in my time in Lund. The architecture is amazing here. It’s name is quite straightforward as it was opened on All Saints Day back in 1891. The inside is nice as well but my favorite is the outside color and overall facade.
Lundagård is a small park right next to the Lund Cathedral and was one of my favorite places to relax at, take in the sights, people watch, reflect on life, think about what I’m going to eat for dinner, etc.
Lund, Sweden (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/800 s)
As for the Cathedral, it’s dark exterior makes it look OLD (first consecrated around 1123), it is in fact one of the oldest stone buildings in all of Sweden. It is a quintessential example of Romanesque architecture in all of the Nordics. It also has a crypt which has been refurbished from time to time and is free to tour. If you time it just right, you can attend a concert here as well.
Lund Cathedral, Lund, Sweden (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
All of these sights are within the confines of Lund University. The main university buildings sit around Lundagård and the Cathedral. Specifically I found Kungshuset to be especially striking; built by King Frederick II in the 16th century as the seat of the bishop of Lund.
If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes, including Sweden, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).
Kungshuset, Lund, Sweden (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/8, 1/100 s)
While walking in the area, noticing all the Cobblestone streets, I found a nice open air museum called Kulturen. This museum features many historic buildings, some preserved all the way from the Middle Ages. There is a small fee to pay to access the well-curated property but I rather enjoyed it. Some of the buildings there include Herrehuset (A manor house), Locus Peccatorum (student barracks), Dekanhuset (Dean’s house), and Bosebo Church (A church, obviously).
Stadsparken is just as short walk away from the train station and city center, and is a popular place for students. One day every year, you will find this park packed to capacity. This is April 30th, otherwise known as ‘Valborg’, which is celebrated with bonfires, dancing, and drinking. You can call it the unofficial start of spring. This day is also widely celebrated in the city of Uppsala (whichever city’s celebration of Valborg is bigger…is up for debate).
Lund, Sweden (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/8, 1/400 s)
The Lund Botanical Garden is a historical landmark that had been conceived in 1690. As the university had expanded over the centuries, the location of the garden has changed numerous times. Today is functions as a garden and greenhouse with over 7,000 plant species on 20 acres of land. The gardens serves the university within the areas of study such as ecology and botany. It is also open and free for the public to enjoy at their leisure.
While writing this article and seeing Lund, I realize how similar it was to Uppsala (my current home). Both cities are home to very old universities and as such, possess a large student population. Both cities have botanical gardens and quaint city centers with their own cathedrals to boot.
I found that even though Lund was smaller, it was a place I found endearing, a place I would like to return to. I obviously feel the same about Uppsala, since I have a home here, but I am mixed on which city I like more. As for advice for you, it’s best to see both!
