Liquor barons, prostitution and the Institute of Racial biology - a dark Uppsala walk 90min

Step into a hidden side of Uppsala on a walking journey that brings forward the shadows of the past and the stories rarely told. This immersive experience guides you through quiet lanes and beside well known buildings while revealing tales of hardship, control, and forgotten lives. You will hear about brothels of the old centuries, the suffering brought by the great plague, the grip of the liquor barons, and the harsh fate of the poor who were confined in correction houses. The walk paints a vivid picture of a city shaped by power, struggle, and humanity as it once was, offering a deeper understanding of the people who lived through those dark chapters.

As you move through the heart of Uppsala, the tour sheds light on troubling moments in Swedish history, including the work of the old institute for racial biology and the painful realities of forced sterilization and medical control. You will also learn about legal prostitution in earlier centuries and why the young women of that time were restricted from certain areas of the city. Guided by an authorized Uppsala city guide, this walk reveals an unseen face of the city and shows how deeply its past still lingers in its streets and stories.