Lund Tour: From Medieval Metropolis to Contemporary College City

Strolling around Lund’s cobblestoned old town, now the city’s academic centre, you wouldn’t realise that it’s one of the oldest cities in Scandinavia with over 1,000 years of history.

It was once a commercial centre and then, in the Middle Ages, it became a religious center with dozens of churches and religious institutions. The grandest of these was the Lund Cathedral, where archbishops reigned, and kings were crowned. The cathedral still towers over the picturesque city center but today, Lund is best known for its university — one of Scandinavia’s leading academic institutions. On this walking tour, you’ll wind your way through the charming streets and delve into the intriguing past that has shaped this remarkable place.

The tour begins outside Lund Central Station, a short stroll from Bantorget square. From there, you'll follow in the footsteps of priests, professors, and Helgo Zettervall, an architect who famously tore down medieval structures to rebuild them in what he perceived medieval architecture to be. You’ll see where the city’s academics once lived as you walk down Professorsstaden (Professor Town) en route to AF Borgen, Lund’s castle and academic association where the tour ends. Along the way, I’ll point out historical landmarks including Gamla Biskopshuset (the old bishop's residence) and the university’s gym and concert hall known as Palaestra et Odeum. You’ll also hear about a student prank when one of University Square’s “Faculty Frogs” sculptures was stolen and later found on a train bound for Stockholm, wearing a traditional student’s cap.

On this Lund walking tour, you’ll get to:

• Experience the charming atmosphere of Stortorget, Lund’s main square that’s bustling with quaint cafes, bars and boutique shops
• Take in Krafts Torg, the city’s medieval market square where you’ll find plaques commemorating the student erected monument to nothingness in 1984 and its theft in 1987
• Learn about the fascinating open-air museum Kulturen that breathes life into Lund's bygone eras with meticulously recreated historical buildings and artifacts
• Peer through the dark windows at Locus Peccatorum, the Place of Sins, with its dark and tragic past that served as a catalyst for the establishment of the Academic Society
• Soak up the fresh and fragrant air of Lund’s Botanical Garden where you’ll find thousands of plants, flowers and trees
• Hear about Skissernas Museum (Museum of Sketches), a unique public art museum that focuses on the artistic process
• Marvel at the ivy-covered Lund University Library, considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Sweden
• Enjoy University Square which is surrounded by historical buildings on all sides and forms the epicenter of academic Lund

This hour-long tour is designed for all to enjoy, with an easy walking route. Whether you're a tourist passing through or a new student just arriving in Lund, you’ll enjoy immersing yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of Lund’s contemporary core while learning about its rich and fascinating past.