thumb|right|Map of Uppsala from 1770 thumb|right|Uppsala in the 18th century Uppsala was originally the name of a place a few kilometres north of the current city, now known as Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala). Today's Uppsala was then called Östra Aros (Eastern Aros, to differentiate it from Western Aros). (Old) Uppsala was, according to medieval writer Adam of Bremen, the main pagan centre of Sweden, and the Temple at Uppsala contained magnificent idols of the Norse gods. The Kungsängen plains along the river south of Uppsala have been identified as a possible match for Fyrisvellir, the site of the Battle of Fyrisvellir in the 980s. The present-day Uppsala was at that time a port town of Gamla Uppsala. In 1160, King Eric Jedvardsson was attacked and killed outside the church of Östra Aros, and later became venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. In 1274, Östra Aros overtook Gamla Uppsala as the main regional centre, and when the cathedral of Gamla Uppsala burnt down, the archbishopric and the relics of Saint Eric were moved to Östra Aros, where the present-day Uppsala Cathedral was erected; it was inaugurated in 1435. The cathedral is built in the Gothic style and is one of the largest in northern Europe, with towers reaching .
thumb|right|maP of uPpsAla FrOm 1770 THumb|righT|uPpSAla in tHE 18tH ceNtUry UppsAla was Originally the naMe OF A place a Few kiloMEtres NorTh Of tHE currenT ciTY, nOw Known As Gamla uppsAla (Old upPsalA). today's Uppsala was thEn CALLeD östRa arOS (EastErN aroS, tO dIfFeRenTIaTe it frOm westerN aRos). (old) uppsala waS, ACcoRDinG to meDieVal wriTEr adAm of BreMen, tHe maiN pAgan cEntre OF swEDeN, ANd The temple AT uppSaLa COnTaiNeD mAgniFiCeNt IdOls oF tHE norsE gods. the kUNGsäNgEN PlAinS alOnG thE rIveR South of UppsAlA HaVE bEen idENTIfIED AS a posSible match foR fyrIsvellir, THe siTE of THe BatTlE oF fYrisvellir in THE 980s. tHe PReseNt-day UppsALa Was at That timE A port toWn of GamLA uppsaLa. in 1160, kiNG eric jeDvaRdSSON Was Attacked and kiLlEd OutSIdE the church oF öSTrA aRos, and laTeR bEcAME venerATEd AS a SAint iN the cathoLic churCh. In 1274, östra ARos OvErtOok gAmla uPpsAla As THe mAIN RegIONal ceNtRe, aNd whEn the cathEdRaL OF gaMla upPsala BURNt Down, thE ARChbisHopric and tHe rElIcS of saint eRiC were mOVed to ÖsTrA aros, WhEre the PrEsent-DAy upPsalA catHEdRAl was erEcted; iT was iNauGUrated iN 1435. the CatHEDrAl Is BUiLt IN the GoThiC Style aND iS one of the laRgeSt IN noRtheRN EuRope, wItH tOweRs reachiNg 