The obelisk, Obelisk in Uppsala, Sweden
Obelisken is a stone obelisk set in the Odinslund park in the center of Uppsala, a city in Sweden. The monument has a plain, rectangular shape with small spheres at the corners of its base.
The obelisk was erected in 1832 to honor King Gustav II Adolf, a major figure in Swedish history. It was a gift from King Karl XIV Johan, who repurposed a stone originally designed by architect Louis Jean Desprez for Drottningholm Palace.
The obelisk stands in Odinslund, an open green space near Uppsala Cathedral where students and locals often walk. Passersby can view the plain stone column from all sides and sometimes rest on the nearby benches.
The monument is easy to reach on foot from central Uppsala, as Odinslund sits right next to the cathedral. There is no entry fee, and visitors can stop by at any time.
The stone of the obelisk was first intended for Drottningholm Palace and lay unused beside a bridge opposite the castle for years before being brought to Uppsala. At the 1832 inauguration ceremony, one of the king's sons swung a silver spade so hard that the handle broke, which amused those present.
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